From wedding week karaoke machines to speakers that double as chargers, JBL makes speakers for nearly every situation. Even so, with its latest portable Bluetooth speaker, the brand is expanding its range of options.
As of Sept. 2, the JBL Grip is officially up for preorder for $99.95, and will become widely available on Sept. 28. At the size of a tall can and a price sitting firmly in the low to middle portion of JBL’s portable speaker lineup, the Grip offers a good degree of flexibility in portability and pricing.
So what should you expect out of the new speaker? Here’s what you need to know.
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The new JBL Grip comes in an array of colors.
Credit: JBL
JBL Grip speaker specs
At Mashable, we’ve tested several speakers from the JBL lineup, from the $879.95 PartyBox 520 to the $49.95 Go 4. Across the board, JBL speakers produce well-rounded sound, are durable, have decent battery life, and offer options for amplifying your experience. With the JBL Grip, you get:
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JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost that optimizes speaker drivers for clearest possible sound, even at higher volumes
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43 x 80 mm full range transducer
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12 hours of battery life, plus two hours with PlayTime Boost
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Six colorways: black, white, purple, red, blue, and camo
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JBL companion app compatibility
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Ambient light on the back panel you can adjust with the JBL app
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IP68 water- and dust-proof rating
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Multi-speaker connectivity with Auracast
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Rope hook for taking on the go
Its small size makes it ultra-portable.
Credit: JBL
The most immediate comparisons that spring to mind for the JBL Grip are the JBL Flip 7 speaker and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. The Wonderboom 4 is Mashable’s current favorite Bluetooth speaker under $100, sitting at the same price point as the JBL Grip. Its rating is slightly less, at IP67 (meaning it can’t withstand immersion in water as well as the Grip), and it comes without a companion app. It’s shorter and wider, where the Grip is tall, has 14 hours of battery life, and often goes on sale for $79 or less.
The Flip 7, on the other hand, is a step up from the Grip, and its price reflects that at $149.95. You’ll get 16 total hours of playtime, a 45 by 60 mm woofer and 16mm tweeter, interchangeable carrying accessories, and lossless audio playback, as well as the same IP68 rating, JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost, Auracast multi-speaker connections, and companion app as the Grip speaker.
