JBL Clip 5 accompanies me almost everywhere

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You can attach this speaker to almost anything, from your bag to your belt loop. (Courtesy of Rebecca Rodriguez) — You can attach this speaker to almost anything, from your bag to your belt loop.

There aren’t many things my husband and I argue about, but the JBL Clip 5 is on that list. I usually win the custody battle, so it can almost always be found in my bag (along with five different lip products and my Kindle Scribe). He goes with me to soccer games, picnics in the park, and even showers. Needless to say, it follows me to more places than my shadow.

What is JBL Clip 5?

JBL clip 5

JBL Clip 5 is the brand’s latest model from the Clip series, which was released in June 2024. It’s a portable speaker with a carabiner – you can attach it to a towel rack, bike, sports bag, or even your belt loop. The oval speaker provides up to 12 hours of playback. To prolong charging, simply click the Playtime Boost button (you won’t get the best sound quality in this mode, in my experience, but it’s great for long days). During testing, I typically used it for about 4 hours without any problems.

The JBL Clip 5 is also compatible with the brand’s app, which allows you to adjust the speaker’s audio settings and pair it with other compatible JBL speakers to create a surround sound experience in your space.

At this point you’re probably asking, “Rebecca, why this speaker So special?” With an IP67 rating, the Clip 5 offers the highest protection against dust particles and can withstand temporary immersion in water. I regularly use the speaker in the shower and have never had a problem with water. To put it to the test even further, our NBC Select staff threw in Clip 5 for the pool. No wonder everything worked perfectly after that.

Battery life: Up to 15 hours | IP Rating: IP67 | Libra: 0.62 lbs | Communication: Bluetooth 5.3

How I tried the JBL Clip 5

I’ve been testing the Clip 5 for five months (JBL sent us the speaker in May for review). As I mentioned, I take a speaker with me everywhere — park, shower, beach. I tested water resistance, sound quality and battery life.

Purple oval JBL speaker attached to a towel rack in the bathroom. (Courtesy of Rebecca Rodriguez) — The wider carabiner on the JBL Clip 5 makes it easier to attach it to a towel rack.

My husband also tested the JBL Clip 5 on his bike trips to the office. He says he uses it at full volume and it’s clear enough to hear music over New York City traffic without distracting him from his surroundings while driving.

My test also included comparing it with the JBL Clip 4. In short, the differences between both models are clear.

My experience with JBL Clip 5

What I like

Sound quality

Considering that the speaker fits in the palm of your hand, the sound quality is impressive. The sound fills my 9-by-15-foot living room/kitchen space. At the highest volume, the sound is still clear and doesn’t sound like the speaker is about to explode (an issue I’ve encountered with other speakers I’ve tried).

You can also adjust the sound quality in the JBL app (mentioned above) by adjusting the equalizer. This can improve clarity, bass and vocals depending on your preference, which is perfect for the audiophile. I played around with these settings, but ultimately went back to the original settings because that was the sound quality I liked the most.

Mobility

This is honestly one of my favorite features, aside from being waterproof. You can easily take JBL Clip 5 wherever you go. I throw it in any bag or attach it to the handle. The speaker takes up the same space as a standard soda can and weighs slightly less than my Airpod Max. I clipped the speaker to my belt loop when I didn’t want to carry a bag but still wanted to take it with me. A speaker isn’t something I usually have on my packing list, but I took it with me on vacation so I could prepare for recordings even when I was in a hotel.

A purple oval JBL speaker clipped to a green travel bag. (Courtesy of Rebecca Rodriguez) — The JBL Clip 5 can be easily taken on the go, whether I throw it into a small bag or attach it to the handles.

Configuration and design

Although the brand has an application that works with the speaker, it is not necessary to connect it to an iOS or Android phone. After turning it on for the first time, it took me less than a minute to connect the JBL Clip 5 to my phone via Bluetooth. All I had to do was press the Bluetooth icon on the speaker and it immediately appeared. Once paired, you don’t need to do it again. I’ve experienced disconnection issues with other speakers, but this wasn’t an issue with the Clip 5.

Most speakers are not aesthetically pleasing, but I found the JBL Clip 5 to have a fun and dynamic look. The brand offers them in various color combinations, so you’re not stuck with just a standard black speaker.

Potential disadvantages to be aware of

Not ideal for large gatherings

While the sound quality is impressive considering the size of the speaker, I wouldn’t use this at a party or larger gathering. Although it fills the space in my living room and is great for picnics in the park or bike riding, the lively chatter at a party drowns out the sound even at maximum speaker volume.

The carabiner sometimes comes loose

My husband noticed this concern because it only seemed to happen when riding his bike. In his experience, whenever he was riding on particularly rough terrain, the carabiner would sometimes come loose. This concern was also noted in several product reviews I read on Amazon. So if you’re considering using this speaker for activities like cycling, keep the clip in mind.

JBL Clip 5 vs. Clip 4

Sound

The most noticeable difference between these two speakers is the sound quality. The JBL Clip 5 is bassier and has a sharper sound. In my experience, it also gets louder than the previous model and it’s easier to distinguish different instruments and vocals in music.

The JBL Clip 4 is not compatible with the brand’s app, which means you can’t adjust the sound quality like you can with the Clip 5. The older model also doesn’t support Auracast for pairing with other JBL speakers.

Design

A purple JBL oval speaker with carabiner on the right and a slightly smaller black JBL oval speaker with carabiner on the left. (Courtesy of Rebecca Rodriguez) — The JBL Clip 5 is much larger than the Clip 4 and has a wider carabiner

At first glance, the speakers look quite similar, but if you put them side by side, you will immediately notice the differences in size and appearance. The JBL Clip 5 is slightly larger than the Clip 4 and has a wider carabiner opening. I couldn’t attach the Clip 4 to the towel rack in my bathroom, but the Clip 5 works smoothly.

On the right side, the purple oval JBL speaker has power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons. On the left side, the black oval JBL speaker has power and Bluetooth buttons. (Courtesy of Rebecca Rodriguez) — The buttons on the JBL clip are easier to press and find thanks to the silicone strap.

The newer model also has a silicone band around the speaker, and on the left side there are power, Bluetooth and Auracast buttons. On the Clip 4, the buttons were still on the side of the speaker, but it didn’t have that silicone part, so they were right on the edges of the speaker, making them blend in with the surroundings and a little more awkward to press. This model also did not have an Auracast button. There are diagonal silicone lines on the back of both speakers for better grip when the speaker is lying flat. However, in Clip 5 they are thicker and more spaced than in Clip 4.

Who is JBL Clip 5 best for?

If you’re looking for a compact speaker without compromising on sound quality, the JBL Clip 5 is a great option. The carabiner clip is a unique feature that makes it more comfortable to carry around than other portable speakers I’ve seen or tried. While the JBL app allows you to customize the speaker’s sound and pair it with other compatible JBL devices, you don’t need to download it to pair it with your phone or computer. This speaker is also a great option if you are looking for a shower speaker because it is very waterproof. Mine survived numerous showers and even being thrown into a pool.

Clip 5 is also a great gift for teenagers and music lovers. The previous model was my favorite gift last year, and you can usually find great deals on JBL products during sales like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m an editorial design manager at NBC Select and have tested hundreds of products in various categories such as fitness apparel, technology, luggage, skin care and more. For this article, I tried out the JBL Clip 5, which was sent to me by the brand, for five months in outdoor and indoor settings.

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