This Outdoor-Ready JBL Bluetooth Speaker Is 35% Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma Pradershika Sharma Freelance Writer ExperiencePradershika Sharma is a tech deals writer for Lifehacker. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature, a B.Ed., and a TESOL certification. She has been writing professionally since 2018, creating product reviews, affiliate articles, and search ads for global clients while working with Rubix Agency and Cognizant. Previously, she spent a year teaching English at the junior high level.An avid reader since childhood, Pradershika's idea of extreme sports is staying up to read “just one more chapter.” She lives in India. Read Full Bio August 24, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Credit: Amazon/Lifehacker Table of Contents Portable Bluetooth speakers usually force a trade-off—the smallest ones are easy to carry but sound thin, while the bigger ones sound better but take up more space in a bag. The JBL Grip Bluetooth Speaker, currently $64.95 on Amazon (down from $99.95), sits right in the middle. Price trackers show this is its lowest recorded price so far. Amazon is also bundling 90 days of Amazon Music with the purchase. It is small enough to slide into a backpack pocket where a water bottle would normally sit, and a nylon loop on the back lets you clip it to a carabiner or hang it from a hook. Plus, it carries an IP68 rating, so it can deal with dust and even survive being submerged in nearly five feet of water for about 30 minutes. JBL also says it can take a three-foot drop onto concrete, so tossing it into a backpack or beach bag isn’t likely to hurt it.Inside is a 43mm by 80mm full-range driver that covers frequencies from 70Hz to 20kHz, connected through Bluetooth 5.4. It’s a mono speaker, so it doesn’t produce stereo sound on its own, but you can pair it with another JBL speaker if you want that wider effect. In practice, it handles podcasts, playlists, and casual listening well. Voices come through clearly and the midrange stays balanced, though the bass lacks the deeper rumble you would get from a larger speaker like the JBL Flip series, and the high-end detail can sound slightly subdued, notes this PCMag review. Still, the sound has enough body for a speaker this size. What do you think so far? JBL also includes a few ways to adjust the audio through the JBL Portable app, including four EQ presets and a simple seven-band equalizer. The controls on the speaker itself are straightforward, with power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons on top and volume and playback controls on the front. There’s also a small LED light strip on the back that cycles through lighting effects and can act as a soft light source in a dark room or tent. As for its battery life, it's rated for up to 14 hours at moderate volume, which should get through a full day outdoors without needing a recharge. When it does run out, the speaker charges through a USB-C port and takes about three hours to reach full power. Keep in mind that JBL doesn’t include the USB-C cable, so you’ll need to use one you already have. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Deals are selected by our commerce team Lifehacker has been a go-to source of tech help and life advice since 2005. Our mission is to offer reliable tech help and credible, practical, science-based life advice to help you live better. Our Mission Our Team Newsletter © 2001-2026 Ziff Davis, LLC., A ZIFF DAVIS COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lifehacker is a federally registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Lifehacker. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.