JBL Pulse 4 Reviewed – Best Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

I have personally found most JBL Bluetooth speakers to be a little overrated, but I must admit, the JBL pulse 4 is quite impressive. 

Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The JBL Pulse 4 has some of the best features I have seen on any Bluetooth speaker before, customized to make the customer experience as great as possible. 

On Amazon, this JBL pulse 4 is currently going for $249.99, which is quite pricey for a Bluetooth speaker. 

In this JBL pulse 4 review, we will study this JBL pulse 4 and see if it is worth the price tag. 

Specifications 

• Dimensions (in) – 3.8 x 8.1 x 3.8 
• Weight (lbs) – 2.8 
• Bluetooth version – 4.2 
• Maximum music playing time (hrs) – 12 
• Bluetooth frequency – 2.402 – 2.480GHz 
• Battery – TypeLithium-ion polymer 26 Wh (3.6V, 7260mAh) 
• Charging time (hrs) – 3.5 

Performance 

The design of the JBL Bluetooth speaker with lights is one to die for. The unique transparent exterior with the LED lights panel wrapped around the middle of the cylindrical body are like nothing I have ever seen before. It is the best option for those bonfires at night. 

Since this pulse 4 has a cylindrical build and is made not to be very tall, it can fit in a small portable bag you can carry around with you. However, at 2.8lbs, the JBL pulse speaker is heavier than most Bluetooth speakers. 

Operating this pulse 4 JBL is very easy. The controls are located at the very top, where you will find buttons to control the volume, pair with a Bluetooth device, play or pause, turn on party boost, control the LED lights and switch the speaker on and off. 

The biggest disappointment on the JBL pulse is the lack of speakerphone and aux connection. This means that when you receive a phone call, you will have to answer directly from your phone. The lack of an aux option means you can only stream music and cannot connect the speaker to any other device manually, which is quite annoying.

I do love the JBL connect app, though. Through it, you can connect to another JBL speaker with lights by switching to party boost mode or stereo mode. The two speakers will then act as left and right speakers, amplifying the sound even more. You can also control the LED lights through the phone. They, however, did not include an EQ in the app, which is disappointing. 

The battery life of the JBL speaker pulse 4 is estimated to last about 12 hours which I quite respect, it could be more, but it’s not bad either. However, this also varies with how much you use the LED lights and the volume level. For this price range, JBL could have done better. 

Regarding the lights show, JBL did not disappoint in the black and white Bluetooth speakers. They are pretty entertaining, and you may be starring for a while. I love how the colors mix and glow while constantly changing, even though they do not follow the rhythm of the music. If you shake it, the color pallets will change, while pressing the light button will change the patterns. If there are other pulse 4 speakers nearby, they will sync the lights, which I find really cool—hats off on this one. 

The JBL pulse 4 white and black are fitted with the IPX7 waterproof design that makes it perfect for the outdoors. This means that this JBL pulse 4 waterproof is not only safe from a little splash, but it can also be put 3 feet deep in water, and it will still work perfectly. Moreover, you can take this shower speaker with lights to the bathroom with you. 

For gamers, this ps4 Bluetooth speaker can be connected to your device via Bluetooth and take your experience to a whole new level. 

You can also check out Jbl Eon One Compact.

Pros

• The LED lights are impressive 
• It is waterproof 
• Compelling audio 
• It’s Portable 
• Long battery life. 

Cons

• It doesn’t have a low bass option. 
• No aux or speakerphone functionality.

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Conclusion 

The JBL Pulse 4 portable Bluetooth speaker may have shortcomings, but it definitely holds its salt. It has great features, primarily LED lights, which can brighten up a party. I also love that it can go a whole day before it needs to be charged again, making it ideal for a day out. 

However, when it comes to how expensive it is, I do not think it offers enough for that price point. I compared it to the JBL Xtreme 2, which is way better in terms of sound, longer-lasting battery, and

speakerphone functionality. The Xtreme is also cheaper, going for $199.99 on Amazon at the moment. The only thing I find better on the pulse 4 is the transparent interior and the customizable RGB lights.

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