My Favorite Bluetooth Speaker Is Currently Just $30 at Amazon
The JBL Go 3: A great portable Bluetooth speaker that’s back on sale.
David Carnoy/CNET
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
If I said “name a commodified consumer electronics category,” wireless speakers and headphones would probably be at the top of your list. Search on Amazon — or at your local drugstore — and you’ll see plenty of them with generic or unfamiliar Chinese brand names in the $25 range. And that’s why it’s encouraging to see the JBL Go 3 on sale today, ahead of Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale (which officially runs Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 11 and 12). Usually selling for $50, the JBL Go 3 is currently 40% off — just $30. (It occasionally hovers at this price, but we’ve never seen it lower.)
I own the Go 3, and it’s one of my favorite gadgets and travel companions. It’s also IPX 67 waterproof, so it’s at home in the shower or by the pool. In fact, I installed a Command Hook by the bathroom sink where it can hang from its durable braided loop. The only two buttons are Bluetooth sync and power — it’s worked flawlessly with any phone, laptop or tablet I’ve ever tried to connect to it.?
JBL Go 3
$30 at Amazon
And the sound? For something that fits in the palm of my hand, I think it sounds great. With a good bit of midrange and even a touch of bass, you actually feel like you’re getting some of that JBL audio DNA that you wouldn’t find in those aforementioned no-name speakers. But don’t trust me: Check out the full review from CNET audio guru David Carnoy, who also enshrined it on our list of best Bluetooth speakers.?
You could quibble with the battery life — about 5 hours, and rechargeable via USB-C — but otherwise, there’s very little not to like about the Go 3, which is also available in a range of eight fun colors, including teal, pink and even military camo. If you have an older portable speaker with tinny sound or flagging battery life, this makes a no-brainer replacement. It’s also a great gift for anyone who travels or just likes listening to music or podcasts around the house.?