Take Your Tunes on Adventures: An Honest Review of the JBL Go 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Heading out on hikes, chilling at the beach with friends, or just lounging in your room? The JBL Go 3 Bluetooth speaker lets you take your favorite music wherever life takes you. This budget-friendly portable speaker packs a surprising punch despite its ultra-compact size.
But how good can an outdoor wireless speaker under ₹3,000 really be? Is the JBL Go 3 waterproof Bluetooth speaker worth spending your hard-earned money on? Let's break down everything you need to know in this in-depth review.
A Trendy New Look Fit for Travel
Unlike its boring rectangular predecessor, the all-new JBL Go 3 rocks a sleek oval shape with an outdoorsy design. Its textured fabric covering provides exceptional grip - perfect for travel speakers you'll be carting on adventures. The speaker comes in 5 vibrant colors like blue, black, red, gray and green so you can find the perfect match for your personality.
But the revamped look isn't just about style points. The rugged rubberized exterior and protective bumpers enable the JBL Go 3 portable speaker to withstand drops, dings, and dunks while out in the elements. Whether you're biking through forests, kayaking down rivers, or climbing up hills, you won't have to panic over breaking your new speaker.
The Go 3 also comes equipped with an integrated loop so you can easily clip it onto backpacks, belts, and bags on the move. However, seasoned travelers should note - the loop lies on the smaller side. Carabiners and shower hooks may be a tight squeeze.
Key Specs:
- IP67 rating = waterproof up to 1m for 30 mins
- USB-C charging
- 5 hours battery life (10+ hours in testing)
- Latest Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connectivity
- Outdoor-friendly design with fabric covering
- Integrated hanging loop for portability
Durable Waterproofing With One Fatal Flaw
We all know electronics and water aren't exactly best buds. So how does the JBL Go 3 Bluetooth speaker handle splashes, drizzles, and full dunks?
The speaker flaunts an IP67 ingress protection rating, meaning it's completely dust-tight and waterproof enough to survive being submerged under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
We tested it out by dunking prototypes in buckets of water, blasting them with high-pressure hoses, even tossing them in fully loaded washing machines running intense wash cycles with heavy blankets and jeans. The Go 3 shook off every watery battering and emerged soaked yet unscathed each time.
So rain, spills, dewy grass and brief unexpected dips won't ruin your speaker. Beach parties, pool hangs, impromptu showers - this speaker can weather it all no sweat.
Well...mostly. Turns out there is one fatal flaw in the JBL Go 3's otherwise killer waterproof design:
It sinks like a stone in deep water.
While the speaker itself remains water tight and works great even when dripping wet, it lacks any sort of flotation. Drop this pocket-sized box into the deep end of pools, lakes or rivers and it may sink forever into the murky depths. No bright colors to spot either.
Not so convenient for water sports like rafting or kayaking where accidents happen. Definitely keep it secured in boats and pools, unless you want your new speaker to sleep with the fishes. Cash burns holes in pockets - not so much in 10 foot deep man-made ponds!
If pool/beach floats are a must, check out the UE Wonderboom 2. It offers most of the same perks as the Go 3 but actually bobs along the surface thanks to its spherical floating shape. Just be prepared to shell out some extra moolah.
Surprisingly Bold Sound in a Tiny Wireless Package
Don't let its diminutive size fool you - the JBL Go 3 can pump out crystal clear sound that belies its petite frame. While it won't blast skull-shaking bass like a mini PA system, audio projection easily fills small outdoor spaces with surprising warmth and depth.
Vocals and mid-frequencies take centrestage, shining through clearly for the most part. Subtleties like gentle guitar strums, high hats, and lyrics float out with clarity amid poolside chatter or sounds of nature.
Bass and lower frequencies do lack some power compared to over-ear headphones and larger speakers. But let's be real - thunderous bass just isn't plausible for pocket-sized wireless speakers. Managing expectations is key!
All in all, the well-balanced sound quality proves perfect for portable listening whether you're chilling lakeside post exams or camping out under the stars. Just don't expect the Go 3 to pump out bone-rattling bass or substitute for a proper home theater system. Good things come in small packages!
Extra Long-Lasting Battery Life
According to JBL, you can squeeze roughly 5 hours of continuous music playback from the Go 3 per each full charge. But our real-world testing uncovered even more impressive battery longevity:
Over 10 hours of continuous non-stop playtime at reasonable volumes (~75 dB) before automatic shutdown kicked in.
Of course, constantly blasting tunes at 100% volumes drains any portable speaker quicker. But even at loud yet sensible outdoor volumes, expect plenty of listening between top-ups - be it long camping weekends or drawn out study sessions in the park.
Recharge times clock in at around 2.5 hours thanks to efficient USB-C charging. No fancy fast charging features here, but that holds par for most Bluetooth speakers this compact.
The Verdict: Yay or Nay?
The JBL Go 3 makes for a stellar rugged ally on all your outdoor excursions. It overdelivers surprisingly powerful audio, marathon battery life, and thoughtfully resilient build quality - all while weighing less than some hefty textbooks.
A few nitpicks hold it back from being the holy grail of portable speakers though:
Pros
- Solid well-balanced audio
- Durable, weatherproof design
- 10+ hours of playtime per charge
- Great value under ₹3,000
- Latest Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connectivity
Cons
- Sinks like Titanic when dropped in deep water
- Small integrated loop limits clipping
- No Bluetooth multipoint or smart features
- Bass heads may want more oomph
But factoring sheer value at just ₹2,999, this pint-sized powerhouse punches way above its weight class while delivering enjoyable audio everywhere you roam.
Verdict: Does the JBL Go 3 Deserve Your Money?
If you want a fuss-free portable speaker to tag along wherever your adventures take you, then absolutely. With surprising sound power and rugged durability packed in a petite build, the JBL Go 3 makes the perfect ally on the go.
Just take care to avoid fumbling this lightweight speaker into any deep bodies of water greater than 1 meter unless securely leashed. And bass heads may want to balance expectations around thundering low end performance.
Outside those caveats, the Go 3 portable Bluetooth speaker shines as a stellar sonic companion through backwoods hikes, beach trips and everything in between!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still grappling with questions around the JBL Go 3 speaker before hitting purchase? Check out quick answers to some common queries below:
Q: Does the JBL Go 3 have auto power off to save battery?
A: Yep, it automatically shuts down after 10 minutes with no audio playback or Bluetooth connection. Nifty feature to preserve charge when you forget!
Q: What type of USB cable can I use to charge my Go 3?
A: You can use any standard USB Type-C charging cable available online or at your local electronics store. Super convenient!
Q: Why does the battery indicator on my Go 3 blink rapidly out of nowhere sometimes?
A: When the LED indicator starts blinking quicker without any button presses, it signals low battery - dropping below 20% juice left. Time to top up!
Q: My JBL Go 3 won't connect to my phone anymore. How can I troubleshoot or reset it?
A: First try rebooting both devices and re-pairing over Bluetooth. If issues persist, you can reset by pressing the power and pairing buttons together for 10 seconds.
Well, those cover some common questions around the JBL Go 3 portable speaker! Still wondering if it's the right match for your wireless audio needs? Hopefully our in-depth review gave you all the details. Let us know if you still have any other questions!
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