How many Bluetooth speakers is too many? Actually, don’t tell me – I’m likely way past that. I own Bluetooth speakers in various configurations, from pocketable portables to a colorful smart lamp speaker combo. If you were to ask me to pick my favorite portable speakers, then the answer is easy: the JBL Grip and the JBL Clip 5. But to choose between them? That’s not so simple.
JBL is well-known for selling some of the best Bluetooth speakers, offering big, booming sound from the likes of the JBL Charge 6 down to perfectly portable speakers like the JBL Go 4, which is the teeniest in their range. The Clip 5 is the second smallest JBL offers, and the Grip is the next largest model.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a conveniently compact Bluetooth speaker to take on the road or sing karaoke to in the shower, both the JBL Grip and the Clip 5 would make a great choice.
The JBL Clip 5 has a reasonable list price of $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95, and is available to purchase at JBL, Amazon, and other retailers in the US, the UK, and Australia.
I’ve seen the Clip 5 discounted fairly regularly, which is great news. In fact, it dropped down to just $49.95 / £39 in Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale last year, which is incredible considering its versatility and performance, and makes it pretty likely that there’ll be some great offers on the table this Black Friday.
The JBL Grip is the more expensive option here, sitting between the Clip 5 and the Flip 7 at a list price of $99.95 / £89.99 / AU$129. As with the Clip 5, it can be purchased from JBL, Amazon, and other retailers.
As the Grip only launched in September this year, it’s not much of a surprise that it hasn’t been discounted so far. Fortunately, JBL speakers are often subject to the Black Friday treatment, and I’ve got a good feeling that we’re going to see some kind of price drop on the Grip.
To make life easier, when you come to choose between the JBL Grip and JBL Clip 5 this Black Friday, I’ve outlined some of their differences below.
If you’d like to find out about the sort of discounts we could be seeing on products from appliances to TVs next month, we’ve collated a list of the best Black Friday deals from last year.
Battery life
The Clip 5 provides up to twelve hours of playtime per charge, though this can be stretched out further using the Playtime Boost feature, which tunes and optimizes the performance to increase the battery’s longevity when needed.
Somewhat surprisingly, the larger of the two has a slightly shorter battery life. You can get up to twelve hours of playtime between chargers from the Grip, with the option to prolong your listening time for a further two hours by employing Playtime Boost.
You may well find that your battery lasts much longer than those stated if you intend to have your speaker close by when getting ready or studying. I listen to music or audiobooks during my morning and evening routines, and I don’t tend to have the volume particularly loud, so I’ve found that I’ve rarely needed to recharge either of these speakers.
Clearly, the battery life of both models isn’t worlds apart, but they’re worth knowing if your priority is getting the longest listening time between charges.
Design
The Clip 5 offers something a little different from your average portable Bluetooth speaker. It has a versatile carabiner on the top that I’ve hooked over shower heads and wall-mounted mirror arms when I’m getting ready, as well as bag straps when packing for trips away.
In the absence of suitable things to hook it over, it can lie on its back, but as I prefer the sound to be directed at me, I stand it on its side. The only slight downside there is that it can only sit on the flat side, which is where the power buttons live, so I need to pick it up to turn it off.
I adore the design of the JBL Grip. Its tall and slim soda can style is aesthetically pleasing, and combined with its fabric outer, makes it satisfying to hold. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t genuinely excited about the color-changing lights at the back of the speaker.
Unlike the Clip 5, the Grip is stated to be drop-proof, making it a preferred option for the clumsy among us. The buttons are always within easy reach, too, with the power, Auracast, and Bluetooth speakers on top of the speaker, and the play and volume buttons situated on the front.
Both speakers have high IP ratings, with the Clip 5 being rated IP67 and the Grip IP68. This means that each offers a level of waterproofing suitable for the average user, as they can both handle being submerged up to one meter, just for different durations.
I’d recommend having a think about how you’ll be using your speaker before you make your choice. If you plan to take it out and about with you a lot, or you’ve got convenient places to hang it, I’d go for the Clip 5.
On the other hand, if your speaker will be staying at home, and you’ll just be placing it on flat surfaces, then the JBL Grip is probably the one for you.
Sound
Unsurprisingly, given their size, there’s noticeable compression from both speakers at higher volumes, and neither can replicate sub-bass efficiently due to their physical restrictions. But nonetheless, their overall performance makes the JBL Grip and JBL Clip 5 admirable speakers in their class.
I’ve been impressed with the quality of the bass the JBL Clip 5 pumps out, despite its small size. It struggles with the treble at around 75% volume, with some tracks developing a sharp and tinny edge.
However, at volumes below 75%, the overall sound is fantastic for the price. The different frequencies play together nicely, with impactful bass and well-defined details.
The Grip also delivers satisfyingly deep bass, with nicely detailed trebles. It’s a great little speaker for listening to podcasts, too, providing crisp and clear vocals.
Cracks start to show when the volume is pushed over 90%. Lower frequencies start to sound thin, and there’s a loss of definition between the different elements, but as I mentioned earlier, this isn’t uncommon for small speakers.
This will be a minor detail for most people, but for those who have sensitive ears like me, I’ve found that the classic JBL startup and shutdown sounds are a little quieter from the Grip, which I appreciate, as the Clip 5’s are rather loud, especially in an echoey bathroom.
On that note, if anyone from JBL, or any audio brand, for that matter, happens to be reading this: the sensitive-eared among us would love you forever if you added settings to reduce the volume or deactivate these sound effects.
Basically, you’ll be getting good sound quality for the price, whichever speaker you choose. But, you may want to consider choosing the Grip over the Clip 5 if you intend to blast out beats at higher volumes.
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