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Neither JBL Pulse 3 nor JBL Xtreme were recommended by experts this month

On 4 Mar 2024 (24 days ago) we went through 113 Bluetooth Speaker expert endorsements , however neither JBL Pulse 3 nor JBL Xtreme were included in any of those recommendations. Since neither Bluetooth Speaker received a single endorsement, as far as expert recommendations go, it's technically a tie. We do, however, recommend taking a look at JBL Charge 5 or other critically acclaimed Portable Bluetooth Speakers of this month.

For reference, JBL Charge 5 received 6 endorsements this month, from Digital Trends (26 Feb 2024), WIRED (18 Feb 2024) Tom's Guide (22 Feb 2024) and 3 others.

Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
N/A N/A $130
JBL Pulse 3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
N/A N/A $125
JBL Xtreme
The JBL Xtreme Bluetooth Speaker is a durable and reliable option for outdoor adventures with impressive sound quality, long battery life, and the ability to connect to up to three devices simultaneously.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Curious to see this month's entire Portable Bluetooth Speakers ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Critic Consensus Common points from expert reviews summarized.
As can be seen below, in Mar 2024 neither JBL Pulse 3 nor JBL Xtreme were recommended by key experts who publish Portable Bluetooth Speakers recommendations.
Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
2
+4 $437
Sonos Move 2
4
5
-
5
-
9
-
-
2
-
3
-1 $177
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam is a highly versatile and durable portable speaker that delivers excellent sound quality, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, voice assistant integration, and unique features such as Automatic TruePlay and wireless charging.
3
-
10
11
-
1
-
-
-
-
4
-1 $60
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a durable and waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound, long battery life, and versatile connectivity options.
8
-
9
-
-
2
-
-
-
3
Show all rows
Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [9]

75
Total expert reviews: 9
  • with a score: 7
  • without a score: 2
Highest score by The Streaming Blog
84
Average score based on 9 reviews
75
Lowest score by Gadgets 360
60

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

Expert reviews [15]

85
Total expert reviews: 15
  • with a score: 9
  • without a score: 6
Highest score by What Hi-Fi
100
Average score based on 15 reviews
85
Lowest score by TechHive
70

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
From Seller:
  • Take your listening experience to the next level with the JBL Pulse 3, The portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that combines 360° sound with 360° Lightshow
  • With a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers up to 12 hours of playtime and an IPX7 waterproof housing, Pulse 3 is perfect for worry–free listening by the beach or pool – or even in it
  • Read more
From Seller:
  • Hear the bass, feel the bass, see the bass. Dual external passive radiators demonstrate just how powerful your speakers are
  • Splash proof means no more worrying about rain or spills; you can even clean it with running tap water. Just don't submerge it
  • Read more
From Manufacturer Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents.
EAN Numbers: 0050036337519, 0050036337526, 0050036337533, 4204277897936
UPC Numbers: 050036337519, 050036337526, 050036337533
Model Numbers: JBLPULSE3WHTAM, PULSE3BLK
EAN Numbers: 0050036325585, 0050036325592, 0050036325608, 0050036325615, 0050036325639, 0050036336338, 0050036336345, 0600136199373, 6925281904547, 6925281904578, 6925281904585, 6925281904592, 6925281923135, 6925281928888, 6925281944154
UPC Numbers: 050036325585, 050036325592, 050036325608, 050036325615, 050036325639, 050036336338, 050036336345, 600136199373
Model Numbers: FBA_JBLXTREMEREDEU, FBA_K950742, JBLXTREMEBLKUS, JBLXTREMEBLUUS, JBLXTREMEREDUS, JBLXTREMESQUADUS, K950743, K951393
Physical Features
Dimensions
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Weight

2.1 lbs
 

4.7 lbs
 
Water Resistance

Speakers range from not being able to handle even a drop of water to being able to be fully submerged in water for several minutes. Do you plan to take your speaker outside? To the beach? To the pool? In the shower? Then you definitely need to verify the level of water resistance before purchasing. You can tell the water resistance by the IP rating—the higher the rating, the more resistant the speaker is to the elements. For reference, the first digit refers to dust protection and the second digit refers to water protection. It reads as: IP68. Anything higher than IP66 will be dust- and splash-proof, meaning it can handle some contact with water, but cannot be fully submerged or soaked.

Water Resistant IPX rating if applicable
IPX7 - Immersion up to 1m
IPX4 - Splash proof
Dustproof Dust is a difficult element to combat, since it accumulates naturally and you have very little control over its ability to clog up your speaker. Dust and electronics just don’t get along very well. A ... Show more
No
No
Rugged Design Bluetooth speakers can be durable, rugged, shockproof, dustproof, armored, splash-proof, water resistant and waterproof - all of which can be overwhelming and confusing. In order for a speaker to be c ... Show more
Yes
Yes
Battery

Battery life for Bluetooth speakers is measured in milliampere hours (mAh). Manufacturers will report the battery life of a speaker in the average number of hours it takes to empty from a full charge. Keep in mind this number is based on medium levels of usage. If you play the speaker on full volume, it will drain the battery faster. Some specialty features like using the speaker to charge your phone or casting an LED light show will also drain the battery faster. The manufacturer reported number is just an estimate, and may be slightly different based on your usage.

It’s also important to consider is the type of battery. Rechargeable lithium-ion (LI-ion) batters are ideal, but some speakers only take standard or rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D batteries. You may even find Bluetooth speakers that recharge via solar power—great for outdoor use!

Battery Life
12 hours
15 hours
Charging Time How long it takes to charge the battery
4.5 hours
3 hours
battery_charging_full Power Bank This refers to the speaker’s ability to act as a charging station for your device. In addition to input power (which charges the speaker), some speakers also come with output power, meaning it can cha ... Show more
No
Yes
Sound Quality
speaker_group Sound System A speaker’s sound system is described as either mono or stereo. Mono speakers play audio from a single channel, giving the impression that the sound is coming from one direction. Stereo uses two or mo ... Show more
Stereo
Stereo
speaker_group Number of Drivers To understand the inner-workings of a Bluetooth speaker, look first at the number and type of drivers. Drivers are the cones or horn-shaped objects inside the speaker box. The number of drivers tells ... Show more
3
2
wifi_tethering Subwoofer Having a separate speaker driver dedicated to the lower frequency tones gives your speaker a more robust, rounded out sound. It allows the other drivers to focus on the sounds that they’re best equipp ... Show more
No
Yes
Speaker Breakdown Use the speaker breakdown to better understand sound quality based on the makeup of the speaker. Manufacturers will often report additional details on the speaker drivers, such as the shape (cone or d ... Show more
Three 40mm transducers
Woofer 2 x 63 mm, tweeters 2 x 35mm
Total Output Power Also known as “power handling,” a speaker’s total output power is recorded in wattage. A watt is a measure of electrical power. Thus, higher output means more powerful (or louder) speakers. When deter ... Show more
20 watts
40 watts
graphic_eq Frequency Range Measured in Hertz (Hz), frequency response range describes how high and low a speaker can play. The larger the range, the better the speaker will be at reproducing the audio being played. As a frame o ... Show more
65Hz – 20kHz
70Hz – 20kHz
wifi_tethering Connectivity
Bluetooth Range If you can find it, you should always check the Bluetooth range of your speaker. You won’t realize it isn’t long enough until it stops working for you! Bluetooth range is important for a couple of rea ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
30 ft
Hands-Free Function If you plan on using your speaker to make and take calls, it needs to come equipped with a built-in microphone and speakerphone. To make a call, you can use voice-activated dialing or key in the numbe ... Show more
Yes
Yes
device_hub Connects to Multiple Devices In most cases, your Bluetooth speaker will connect to one device at a time and your device will connect to one Bluetooth speaker at a time. Some speakers come equipped with a feature that allows you t ... Show more
Yes
Yes
settings_input_composite Aux Cable Port While Bluetooth is a quick and easy way to connect your device to a speaker, at times you may want to use a hardwired connection instead. You would do this through a 3.5mm headphone or auxiliary jack. ... Show more
Yes
Yes
phonelink_ring Remote / App Control Apart from the controls on the speaker itself, some Bluetooth speakers may come with a remote to turn the speaker on or off, activate Bluetooth scanning, turn volume up or down, or respond to calls. I ... Show more
No
No
speaker_group Connects to Other Speakers Generally speaking, Bluetooth speakers aren’t usually meant to connect to other Bluetooth speakers unless they come equipped with a hub or transmitter. In those situations, your device connects to the ... Show more
Yes
No
nfc NFC Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new technology that allows you to connect devices by simple tapping them together. To use it, your device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.) and your speaker must have ... Show more
No
Yes
AirPlay AirPlay is a feature for Apple products that offers another way to connect your devices to Bluetooth speakers. The speaker must come equipped with AirPlay in order for you to connect your Apple device ... Show more
No
Yes
radio FM Radio
No
Yes
Additional Features
Additional Features Any other features that make this device unique
Voice assistant integration such as SIri or Google Now
Dual USB charge out: 2 x 1A
Accessories Chargers, cables, cases that come with the device
Power adaptor Micro USB cable
Power adaptor
Attachments Hook, clip, strap, etc
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Strap
Loading price comparison chart...

JBL Pulse 3 is a popular option in the middle of the bluetooth speakers price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Scosche BoomBottle MM or JBL Charge 5 .

JBL Pulse 3 was released in 2017. There are dozens of newer bluetooth speakers on the market. Show newer Bluetooth Speakers

JBL Pulse 3 is $5 more expensive than the average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

JBL Xtreme is a very popular option on the higher end of the price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Jawbone Mini Jambox or JBL Pulse 2 .

JBL Xtreme was released in 2015. There are dozens of newer bluetooth speakers on the market. Show newer Bluetooth Speakers

JBL Xtreme is $53.01 more expensive than the average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

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