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JBL’s Affordable Speaker Has a Surprisingly Cool Feature

It’s small, super rugged, very affordable … and has a standout feature that separates it from the pack.

A white cooler filled with ice, various colorful soda cans, and a red JBL portable speaker. The cooler is placed on a blue striped surface.JBL

By Tucker Bowe

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Today, JBL is one of the biggest names in super portable Bluetooth speakers. The famed American audio brand makes a wide variety of options in various sizes and price ranges, from the Go 4 ($50) to the BoomBox 3 ($500).

Now, it’s introducing a new one to the mix called the Grip. It’s small, super rugged, pretty affordable … and has a standout feature that separates it from the rest.

JBL Grip

Three JBL portable Bluetooth speakers in blue, red, and black are positioned side by side on the edge of a pool, with water splashing around them. The background shows greenery and a clear blue sky.
The JBL Grip is the brand’s new ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker.
JBL

Big sound, small package

JBL’s Grip is a small cylindrical-shaped portable Bluetooth speaker that’s actually pretty similar to the JBL Flip 7 ($150), which is arguably its most popular portable speaker. The difference? The Grip is about half the size.

Like its other ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers, the Grip promises big sound in a compact design. It packs dual full-range drivers and plays true 360-degree sound. It comes with the brand’s AI Sound Boost tech, allowing it to play deeper than expected bass.

Hand holding a white JBL portable Bluetooth speaker against a blue background. The person has a silver bracelet with pearls on their wrist and nails painted with a pink base and blue and white wave designs.
It’s roughly half the size of JBL’s ultra-portable Flip 7.
JBL

The Grip gets its name, seemingly, from its small “grip-able” size — it’s basically the size of a can of hard seltzer.

The speaker does have an integrated rope hook (or lanyard), allowing you to hang the speaker on a backpack, bike or the back of a chair. Unlike some other JBL speakers, the Grip is meant to stand (and hang) upright.

A cylindrical portable Bluetooth speaker with a textured blue fabric exterior, standing upright on a surface at night. The speaker has a glowing vertical light panel displaying the word "GRIP" in white letters. The background is blurred city lights.
The most unique thing about the Grip is can double as a sort of flashlight.
JBL

Part speaker, part light

Now, it’s not uncommon for today’s portable speakers to have built-in LED lighting that syncs to the beat of the music. And the JBL’s Grip has that as well.

However, the Grip’s integrated light system is a bit different. It features a single large light located on its spine, which, according to the brand, can get bright enough to use as a light for late-night reading.

As someone who grills several times a week using a lantern and a speaker, I find it really cool that the Grip speaker can effectively kill two birds with one stone.

A red cylindrical portable Bluetooth speaker with a textured fabric exterior, standing upright on a white surface. The speaker has a glowing vertical light strip on the front with the word "GRIP" illuminated inside it. The background shows a blurred outdoor scene at dusk with soft, warm lighting and buildings in the distance.
The large ambient light on its spine can be customized via JBL’s companion app.
JBL

The JBL Grip has a number of other features and capabilities similar to the brand’s other ultra-portable speakers. It has an IP68 rating, making it one of the most waterproof and rugged portable speakers on the market.

As far as playback, two Grip speakers can be configured in a stereo pair. It supports Auracast, too, thus allowing the speaker to be grouped in a multi-room audio system with other Auracast-enabled speakers.

Additionally, the Grip charges via USB-C and promises up to 14 hours of playback on a single charge.

A black JBL portable Bluetooth speaker partially buried in sand on a beach or riverside, with three people sitting on a blue blanket in the background near trees and water.
The JBL Grip comes in six finishes, including black (shown).
JBL

Price and availability

The JBL Grip costs $100 and is available for preorder now. It will officially be released on September 28, 2025.

The speaker comes in six finishes: black, white, purple, red, blue and camo.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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