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In this guide
The Go 4 is a useful example of why a recommendation needs a date as well as a product name. Its physical design has not suddenly become less useful, but a newer model changes the price at which buying it makes sense.
A September 10 price check found the Go 4 listed at $49.95 and the Go 5 offered at $44.95 on JBL’s US site. At those two numbers the older model has no case. Owners are answering a different question: a speaker that still works does not need replacing because a successor exists.
Our verdict
Keep a working Go 4. For a new purchase, compare the Go 5 first and require a meaningful discount on the older model.
- A good fit for
- A listener who values a very small speaker and finds the Go 4 substantially cheaper than its successor.
- We would skip it if
- The two generations cost roughly the same, or you need to cover a noisy gathering.
Reasons to consider it
- A compact format suits a bag you already carry
- Published IP67 protection and Auracast support give it uses beyond a desk
The compromises
- The checked Go 5 offer undercuts the Go 4 listing
- Advertised battery figures depend on listening conditions
What we have not verified: No listening comparison, volume measurement or battery test was run on either generation.
The things in this guide
A closer look at the products, who they may suit, and what to check before buying.
Go 4 Portable Speaker
Still a compact option for light packing, provided the successor has been priced first.
Before you buy: The checked Go 5 price was lower. Treat this link as a price check, not a recommendation to pay the displayed Go 4 price.
Price checked September 10, 2026. Retailer prices can change.Choose the listening situation before the model
JBL specifies a 45mm driver, 4.2W output and Bluetooth 5.3 for the Go 4. None of those numbers is a listening verdict. A speaker this size is for music close by in a small space; a busy outdoor group is a different problem and needs different hardware.
The most valuable feature may simply be that it fits the bag you already take. A larger speaker left at home provides no benefit on a walk. But if the speaker will live permanently in one room, portability is less valuable and a room-oriented alternative deserves consideration.
Seven hours is a claim with conditions
The manufacturer quotes up to seven hours of playback, with up to two more using Playtime Boost. The specification sheet says volume and audio content change that figure. Plan a charging opportunity instead of treating either maximum as a daily result.
IP67 has a defined scope: dust, and immersion under stated conditions, tested new. It is silent on impacts, on every liquid, and on the same seal after two years in a bag. Useful insurance against ordinary mishaps, not permission to be careless.
The successor resets the value calculation
JBL lists eight hours of ordinary playback for the Go 5, an IP68 rating and a weight of 230g. Those published differences are worth attention and settle nothing about which one sounds better to you. No side-by-side listening was done here.
At equal or lower cost the newer model is the one to investigate first. Around $30 the Go 4 becomes interesting again. That is our threshold for the tradeoff, not a claim that such an offer exists today.
Buying new and replacing old are different decisions
If your Go 4 still covers an afternoon of listening and connects reliably, keep it. A small improvement on a specification sheet is not automatically worth the cost, setup, and waste of a replacement. Upgrade when you can name the limitation you are paying to remove.
If buying today, compare the delivered price for the same region and check availability. A favorable number on a sold-out color is not an actionable bargain. Include any charging accessories you need, and check the return terms if sound quality is the deciding factor.
A much cheaper Go 4, no local Go 5 stock, or a real listening trial favoring the older model would each change this. None of those is true at the prices checked, and familiarity is not worth five dollars.
How we put this together
Built from the product pages and listings below, without test scores or results we have not measured. Specifications and prices change, so check the original page for the exact model, current price, delivery, and returns.
- JBL: Go 4 product listing (opens in a new tab)
- JBL: Go 4 technical specification sheet (opens in a new tab)
- JBL: Go 5 US listing in black (opens in a new tab)
