- JBL Grip is cylindrical but smaller (and cheaper) than the Flip 7
- Bold JBL Pro Sound with a ‘punchy’ 16W output
- Auracast connectivity, IP68 waterproofing, and tempting price tag
If I were looking at JBL’s enviable Bluetooth speaker lineup with a critical eye, I might say that while the JBL Flip 7 is a barn-stormer of a portable speaker (and fully deserving of its place at the tippy-top of our best Bluetooth speakers guide), there’s typically always been quite the gap between it and, say, the JBL Go 4 or JBL Clip 5 – and I mean that in terms of size, price, and audio quality.
And that’s why I’m so happy to see the launch of the JBL Grip; it feels as if JBL’s looked at its range and said: “We’ve got something at $49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95 and we’ve got something at $149 / £129 / AU$179. Can we get something to split the difference – something priced at $99?”
And the JBL Grip is that speaker, priced $99 (so around £75 or AU$150, although these prices are currently guesstimates), or a direct rival for the splendid mug-sized Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4.
What of its dimensions? JBL tells us the Grip is “inspired by the proportions of a seltzer can,” but if that doesn’t immediately work for you, think of those pre-mixed cocktail cans or perhaps the well-known energy drink named after a colorful male cow.
Get to grips with the newest JBL speaker in town
Top of the spec-sheet for the JBL Grip is JBL’s Pro Sound audio tuning, a “punchy 16W output” plus AI Sound Boost for “more powerful and deeper bass without distortion”.
You can pair two speakers for stereo sound, or connect multiple speakers with Auracast. There’s an integrated rope hook on the speaker to make it easy to attach to a backpack or bike, say, and its IP68 water, dust, and drop-proof construction means you won’t have to worry about dropping it in water up to 1.5m deep, for up to 30 minutes.
Stamina? You should get up to 12 hours of playtime, plus an additional 2 hours with Playtime Boost activated, which is more than acceptable for a speaker of this size.
My personal favorite new feature on the Grip speaker? A pill-shaped but quite large ambient light on the back panel, so you can set the mood to match your playlist using the JBL Portable App.
The JBL Grip is now available for pre-sale in the US, priced $99.95 on JBL.com, with a wider release scheduled for September 28, 2025. Color options? Of course: six standout finishes will arrive, including classic black, white, bold purple (which would be my preferred choice), red, blue, and camo.
Will it join the ranks of our best waterproof speakers roundup soon? Time (and TechRadar’s thorough testing process) will tell – but I truly hope so.
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becky.scarrott@futurenet.com (Becky Scarrott)
