JBL Pulse 4 Review

JBL Pulse 4 Review

TRUE SCORE

73%

#

37

/

152

Where does this product score?

Critics liked the JBL Pulse 4 and recommended it for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. They loved its 360-degree customizable RGB lighting, portable design, and remarkably wide sound-stage performance. However, they were disappointed that it does not support stereo and voice assistants.

Product Awards

GR Certified

Consumer Favorite

SAVE $23
$155.99
$132.99

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

71

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

73%

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Table of Contents

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Cat Trust Score

    65
    The JBL Pulse 4 is reasonable for outdoor use. It… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The JBL Pulse 4 speaker delivers strong sound and a… read more
  • ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more
  • ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Product Snapshot

Expert Rankings

Overview_

The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic goers. Equipped with an IPX7 submersible waterproof design, this system is ideal for the outdoors. Check out our best speakers for similar waterproof speakers. It’s battery-powered, offering an impressive 11.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. It runs on Bluetooth 5.1, featuring dual-device pairing and a good 187-foot range. Examine the details of the JBL Pulse 4 below and see how it compares with the best-ranked Bluetooth speakers today.

Best For

Consensus_

Reason to Buy

  • IPX7 water-resistant design
  • Remarkably lightweight, portable construction
  • Customizable 360-degree RGB lighting
  • Outstanding soundstage and good battery life
  • Low sound deterioration rate at the highest volume

Reason to Avoid

  • No speakerphone functions
  • Lacks a graphic EQ
  • Lacks low bass and is not ideal for movie buffs
  • Sub-par frequency response range accuracy out-of-the-box
  • Doesn’t support voice assistant

Key Specs_

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Product Comparison_

True Score

73%
NR
NR
NR

Ranking

#

37

/

152

#

/

#

/

#

/

Market Context

The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic…

The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic goers. Equipped with an IPX7 submersible waterproof design, this system is ideal for the outdoors. Check out our best speakers for similar waterproof speakers. It’s battery-powered, offering an impressive 11.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. It runs on Bluetooth 5.1, featuring dual-device pairing and a good 187-foot range. Examine the details of the JBL Pulse 4 below and see how it compares with the best-ranked Bluetooth speakers today.

Producing more extended bass, the JBL Xtreme 2 is better for movie and EDM music enthusiasts than the JBL Pulse 4. The Xtreme 2 is…

Producing more extended bass, the JBL Xtreme 2 is better for movie and EDM music enthusiasts than the JBL Pulse 4. The Xtreme 2 is also compatible with smartphone voice assistants, unlike the Pulse speaker. However, the JBL Pulse 4 has customizable RGB lights, unlike the Xtreme 2 speaker. See our JBL Xtreme 2 review for details about the Xtreme speaker.

Unlike the JBL Pulse 4, which has an IPX7-rated waterproof design, the JBL Charge 5 has a better IP67 waterproof and dustproof design. The Charge…

Unlike the JBL Pulse 4, which has an IPX7-rated waterproof design, the JBL Charge 5 has a better IP67 waterproof and dustproof design. The Charge 5 has a louder 88.9 dB maximum SPL than the 83.3 dB maximum SPL of the Pulse 4 speaker. That said, the JBL Pulse 4 speaker has customizable RGB lights, which are lacking on the Charge 5.

Supporting smartphone-based voice assistants, the Bose SoundLink Revolve has more smart features than the JBL Pulse 4, which doesn’t support voice assistants. However, the JBL…

Supporting smartphone-based voice assistants, the Bose SoundLink Revolve has more smart features than the JBL Pulse 4, which doesn’t support voice assistants. However, the JBL device has a better 0.88 dB directivity index, providing a wider soundstage than the Bose SoundLink Revolve, which has a 1.53 dB directivity index.

See Deal

Dig Deeper

All Stores_

Updated Jun 6, 2023 6:05 PM
  • Save $23
    $155.99
    $132.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No

Price History_

Score Card

E

Expert Score

71

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

73%

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Trust Score

    F

    Cat Trust Score

    65
    The JBL Pulse 4 is reasonable for outdoor use. It has a sturdy build and… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The JBL Pulse 4 speaker delivers strong sound and a hypnotic LED light show in… read more
  • ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more
  • ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Most Promising Positive Review

Most Promising Positive Review

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