I’ve tested a whole lot of Bluetooth speakers here at TechRadar – everything from palm-sized audio companions to giant boombox-style models. So, more than anyone, I understand that the Bluetooth speaker market is incredibly convoluted, with a bunch of amazing – and not-so-amazing – options to choose from.
If you’re looking to grab one of the best Bluetooth speakers, then, it’s crucial to find something that sets one model apart from the rest. Sure, we all want something that sounds good, looks attractive and offers good value for money – but a special feature or two can really make a speaker stand out.
That’s why I often find myself recommending JBL’s speakers. Yes, they often sound fantastic. They’re typically vibrant, attractive, and waterproof too. But their excellent feature-sets – and in particular their ingenious PlayTime Boost setting – really give them that killer edge, in my view. But what is PlayTime Boost? What’s so useful about it? I’ll reveal all down below.
Keep the party moving
PlayTime Boost is a feature on modern JBL speakers that adjusts a model’s audio output to unlock even more battery life.
JBL itself claims that when PlayTime Boost is active, the speaker “optimizes and tunes the performance for a louder and crisper sound”. Lower-frequency sounds are typically less prominent with PlayTime Boost active, but JBL’s speakers still sound great, and that extra lease of life can go a long way.
For instance, I’ve found myself using PlayTime boost a fair bit when I’ve forgotten to charge my speaker, but need a boost in a pinch. On a model like the JBL Grip, you can simply activate PlayTime Boost in the JBL Portable app, and the speaker’s battery life will increase from 12 hours, up to 14 hours. It’s just a great way to keep the party moving if you’ve not got a charger nearby.
Speakers with this feature built-in include the tiny JBL Go 4, the mid-sized JBL Charge 6, and the chunkier JBL Xtreme 4. Best of all, you’ll find PlayTime Boost on the JBL Flip 7 – a small model with big sound that proudly sits as my top overall recommendation in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.
Given that a lot of JBL speakers already supply battery life in line with, or higher than, the bulk of their competition, PlayTime Boost really does make them easy to recommend. But rival manufacturers have released some incredible alternatives lately as well – check out my list of the top 5 Bluetooth speakers of 2025 to get the lowdown on the latest and greatest models you can buy.
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
