JBL Xtreme 4 Bluetooth Speaker Review: Is It the Best Choice?

The JBL Xtreme 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker truly designed for outdoor activities. The Xtreme 4  is the successor to the JBL Xtreme 3. If you want to check the comparison between JBL Xtreme 3 and JBL Xtreme 4, click here. This portable Bluetooth speaker is available in 3  different colors (black, blue, and camo) to match your style. It has an IP67 rating, making it dust and waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about having it with you at pool parties, on the beach, or playing in the rain. It also features a shoulder strap, so you can carry it on the shoulder or adjust it as a crossbody and match it with your style.

The Xtreme 4 brings several upgrades compared to its predecessor. It now has a longer battery life of up to 30 hours, includes the Auracast feature, and introduces AI Sound Boost technology for a better listening experience. These improvements ensure powerful sound, longer playtime, and innovative features, making the Xtreme 4 a perfect choice for audiophiles and outdoor enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

The JBL Xtreme 4 is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring components made from recycled plastic and fabric, highlighting JBL’s dedication to environmental friendliness. The JBL Xtreme 4 design is quite similar to its predecessor, the Xtreme 3, with just slight changes. Its dimensions are 29.7 x 14.9 x 14.1 cm, weighing 2.1 kg (4.62 lbs). The outer grille shell of Xtreme 4 is made up of a fabric cover over a honeycomb-shaped hard plastic skeleton, providing robust protection and durability. The IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating ensures that this speaker can withstand harsh conditions, making it ideal for various environments, from poolside parties to beach picnics.

The speaker features six physical buttons arranged in two parallel rows. The lower row includes buttons for volume down, play/pause, and volume up. The upper row consists of buttons for Auracast, power on/off, and Bluetooth pairing. On the back, there is a USB-C port for charging, and on the lower side, a battery panel with screws allows for easy battery replacement, extending the speaker’s lifespan. The JBL Xtreme 4 is the first portable speaker to offer a removable battery option.

Despite its bulk, the speaker comes with a detachable padded shoulder strap so it can be carried on the shoulder or adjusted as a crossbody for enhanced portability. JBL’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its use of recycled materials for speaker manufacturing, making the JBL Xtreme 4 a perfect choice for environmentally conscious consumers seeking a rugged, high-performance speaker for their outdoor adventures.

JBL Xtreme 4 Sound Quality

The JBL Xtreme 4 speaker is designed to deliver high-quality sound with a dynamic frequency response range from 44 Hz to 20 kHz. This wide frequency range allows the speaker to produce rich, full-bodied audio, capturing both deep bass and clear treble with significant clarity. In AC power mode, the speaker operates with 2 x 30W RMS woofers and 2 x 20W RMS tweeters that make JBL Xtreme 4 80 Watts of output in AC mode, while in battery mode, it still delivers substantial sound with 2 x 20W RMS woofers and 2 x 15W RMS tweeters that makes JBL Xtreme 4, 70 Watts of powerful sound output in battery mode. This adaptable power configuration ensures consistent, high-quality audio output whether the speaker is plugged in or running on battery.

Additionally, the JBL Xtreme 4 has an AI Sound Boost feature, which employs advanced algorithms to optimize sound performance. This innovative technology analyzes the incoming signal and uses an AI algorithm to predict the speaker movement and power response, ensuring a dynamic range and powerful audio output regardless of the volume level, maintaining sound integrity and minimizing distortion. Compared to its predecessor, the Xtreme 4 offers enhanced bass response and clearer treble, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking superior sound quality in a portable package.

JBL Xtreme 4: Battery Life

The JBL Xtreme 4 is known for its impressive, long-lasting battery life, making it the perfect companion for all your adventures. With up to 24 hours of playtime on a full single charge, you can enjoy your music all day without needing to recharge it again. Additionally, the built-in Playtime Boost feature extends playtime further, offering an extra 6 hours of playtime.

The JBL Xtreme 4 offers a replaceable battery feature for those who prefer durability and longevity. You need to open the battery panel and replace the battery to continue enjoying your speaker for years to come.

One of the standout features of the JBL Xtreme 4 is its built-in power bank. This allows you to recharge your mobile phone or other gadgets, making it an ideal choice for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

The JBL Xtreme 4 has a powerful 68Wh (9444mAh, 7.2V) battery design to keep the speaker playing for 24 hours. Its rapid recharge time of just 3.5 hours from 0% to 100% ensures that your speaker is always ready to go when you are.

JBL Xtreme 4: Connectivity

We can see an upgrade in the Bluetooth version of JBL Xtreme 4 over its predecessor, as JBL Xtreme 3 has Bluetooth 5.1 with A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 profiles. The JBL Xtreme 4 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. This upgrade provides a stable connection and allows for multi-speaker pairing via Auracast, simultaneously enabling high-quality, low-latency audio streaming to multiple devices.

However, JBL Xtreme 3 has a 3.5mm aux input, but in the newer version, Xtreme 4, JBL removed the 3.5mm aux input wired connectivity option, so there is no 3.5mm aux input in JBL Xtreme 4. This change might be a downside for users who prefer the option of wired connectivity.

Other Features of JBL Xtreme 4

In addition to its excellent sound, durability and IP67 dust and waterproof rating, the Xtreme 4 includes several other awesome features. It has a built-in power bank, allowing users to charge their phones and other devices on the go. This speaker comes with a shoulder strap and a built-in bottle opener, which adds to its outdoor utility. However, it does not support voice assistants, which might be a drawback for users who prefer smart speaker functionality​​.

Final verdict About JBL Xtreme 4

After the JBL Xtreme 4 test, we came to the final result that this speaker is a top-tier portable Bluetooth speaker, offering a durable structure with excellent sound quality. Its environment friendly construction and advanced features make it ideal for all activities, from pool parties and beach trips and also backyard barbecues. With significant improvements such as longer battery life (24+6 hours), enhanced Bluetooth connection range (Bluetooth 5.3), Auracast multi-speaker pairing, built-in power bank, and AI Sound Boost technology, it offers great value for its price.

If you are exploring other options in the $400 range, consider the JBL Boombox 3 or check out our Top 10 Bluetooth Speakers with Superior Sound. If you want to stay under budget, UE WONDERBOOM 4 and JBL FLIP 5 are also considerable choices with their small sizes and highly portability, but if prefer a loud party sound then you should definitely try Anker Soundcore Boom 2, it offers same 80W of sound output just like Xtreme 4, and has IPX7 waterproof ratings with 24 hours of playtime.

JBL Xtreme 4 vs Other Bluetooth Speaker Options