JBL Xtreme 4 review: JBL's toughest Bluetooth speaker is a 5-star winner

Wherever and however you listen to music, JBL makes some of the best Bluetooth speakers.

Want something compact to hang on your backpack? Buy the JBL Clip 5. Need something to take in your hand luggage on holiday? Take a look at the JBL Flip 7. Looking for a rugged waterproof speaker for a camping trip? The JBL Xtreme 4 will be the top choice.

The Xtreme 4 is the biggest of JBL’s portable speakers; designed to be used outside, while delivering the highest volumes relative to its scale. An update of the Xtreme 3, JBL has taken things up a notch, making for a 5-star best-buy rugged speaker.

How much does the JBL Xtreme 4 cost?

The JBL Xtreme 4 has been available to buy since March 2024. At launch, it cost £329.99 in the UK, $379.99 in the US, and AU$499.95 in Australia.

You can get one from the JBL online store and top tech retailers like Amazon. It’ll be worth shopping around, though, as the price has dropped since launch, especially during sale periods.

What's the difference between JBL Xtreme 3 and Xtreme 4?

• New AI Sound Boost feature
• Better battery life
• Adds Auracast

JBL’s Xtreme speaker is now on its fourth model. Released in 2024, it came out around four years after the Xtreme 3, so the brand had plenty of time to work on the upgrades.

The most subtle changes are to the design. It maintains a very similar cylindrical shape, but it now curves in towards each side.

The buttons have been rearranged from a long row to a centrally placed block and the old PartyBoost button has been replaced with a backlit Auracast button – used to connect to other JBL speakers for even bigger sound.

On the underside of the speaker, the grip lines have been changed to two long rubber feet, which should make it sit more securely on a flat surface.

On the back, there used to be a silicone-covered compartment holding a 3.5mm audio port, USB-C and USB-A – but now there’s only an open USB-C port.

Battery life has been boosted from 15 to 24 hours of music, and there’s a new Playtime Boost feature adding an extra 6 hours to that.

Another new feature is AI Sound Boost, which analyses the music and optimises the output, reducing distortion when you raise the volume.

Is the JBL Xtreme 4 waterproof?

If you’re looking for a robust speaker that will survive rainy camping weekends and sandy beach trips, the JBL Xtreme 4 is designed to be used everywhere and anywhere. It’s IP67 rated, which means it’s both water- and dust-proof – and will be fine if you get caught in a sudden downpour, or if you drop it in sand.

The design can handle all sorts of knocks and bumps, especially because of the rubber bumpers on each side. The matching rubber feet on the underside ensure it stays stable on a flat surface, without any risk of rolling over.

Cylindrical in shape, the Xtreme 4 follows JBL's latest design language, with a large JBL logo across the front, a wrap-around speaker grille and a selection of colours to choose from. I tested out the black colourway, but you can also buy it in navy blue and black camo. The device is predominantly made from recycled plastic and fabric.

A shoulder strap to carry it around is included in the box and clips onto the top of the speaker, which is just as well considering it weighs around 2kg. The strap has grips that rest on your shoulder to stop it slipping, and there’s a bottle opener attached to it too – a nice touch.

There's a block of buttons in the centre at the top of the device, allowing you to easily control your music. It includes a backlit power button, Bluetooth button and that Auracast button, as well as basic play/pause and volume controls.

It’s worth mentioning here that there’s no built-in microphone to make hands-free calls, nor is there voice control as a result.

You’ll get around 24 hours of music from a single charge, and it’ll take around 3.5 hours to recharge to full. For desperate situations, there’s that Playtime Boost feature – but it does affect the sound quality. Alternatively, you can still use it while it’s plugged into mains power.

How does the JBL Xtreme 4 sound?

Given the size of the JBL Xtreme 4, it won’t come as a surprise that the sound is packed with power. It’s loud enough for bustling parties, yet refined enough for solo listening.

When plugged into the mains, the JBL Xtreme 4 delivers an output of 100W. That drops to 80W when you rely on battery power. So you'll get even more oomph when it's plugged into the wall.

I listened to the Xtreme 4 in several situations and places, on my own, with friends, outside and inside, and I queued up lots of different types of music. Lights Out by Fred again.., featuring Romy and HAAi sounds layered, the bass is the driving force behind the track, but the highs remained crisp and the vocals weren’t drowned out. Listening to I Know You’d Kill by Joy Crookes, the vocals sit front and centre, with the speaker providing detailed, sharp percussion and textured horns as a backdrop.

Overall, the Xtreme 4 delivers tonnes of detail while injecting just the right amount of energy. It’s a fun listen without overdoing it on the low end, and the AI Sound Boost ensures consistency in audio delivery at every volume, even when you crank it up.

The adjoining smartphone app, available on both iOS and Android, gives you extra control over the sound. There are three preset sound modes to choose from: JBL’s Signature Sound, Chill, Energetic and Vocal.

I was happy with the default tuning for most of the music I listened to, but depending on the situation, it was great to have the option to soften it or ramp it up with more bass. You can also manually tailor the audio to suit your listening habits more specifically thanks to a five-band equaliser (EQ).

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Verdict

The JBL Xtreme 4 combines clear, concise sound with a selection of features to make it even more versatile. Plus, you can use it anywhere thanks to its water- and dust-proof design.

AI Sound Boost means you can play music at top volumes without sacrificing quality. Playtime Boost gives you more hours of music when the battery is running out. And Auracast both future-proofs it and allows you to create even bigger stereo sound if you have access to another compatible JBL device.

JBL has only made small changes to this fourth version of the Xtreme speaker, but those tweaks undeniably make it an even more convincing piece of kit. So if you're after a 5-star rugged speaker with big sound, this one is just the ticket.

Also consider

Another durable portable party speaker to consider is the Bose Soundlink Max. Like the JBL Xtreme 4, it’s made of tough materials and is both water and dust-resistant. It performs equally as well as JBL's device but some might prefer Bose's design language.

If you like the idea of a rugged Bluetooth speaker with AI powers but don’t need something so bulky, consider the JBL Charge 6 instead (released in April 2025). It’s waterproof and dustproof, plus it packs a lot of the same features as the JBL Xtreme 4.

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