From karaoke machines during wedding week to speakers that also serve as chargers, JBL provides speakers for nearly every event. With its newest portable Bluetooth speaker, the brand is broadening its selection of choices.

As of September 2, the JBL Grip is officially available for preorder at $99.95 and will be generally accessible on September 28. The Grip, designed similarly to a tall can and priced within the lower to mid-range of JBL’s portable speakers, ensures flexibility in both portability and cost.

So, what should you anticipate from the latest speaker? Here’s what you need to learn.

JBL Grip speaker specifications

At Mashable, we’ve evaluated numerous speakers from the JBL collection, ranging from the $879.95 PartyBox 520 to the $49.95 Go 4. Consistently, JBL speakers deliver well-rounded audio, are durable, possess satisfactory battery life, and provide options for enhancing your experience. With the JBL Grip, you receive:

– JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost that enhances speaker drivers for the clearest sound possible, even at elevated volumes
– 43 x 80 mm full range transducer
– 12 hours of battery life, plus an additional two hours with PlayTime Boost
– Six color options: black, white, purple, red, blue, and camo
– Compatibility with the JBL companion app
– Ambient light on the rear panel adjustable via the JBL app
– IP68 water- and dust-proof rating
– Multi-speaker connectivity through Auracast
– Rope hook for easy transport

The most direct comparisons for the JBL Grip are the JBL Flip 7 speaker and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. The Wonderboom 4 is Mashable’s current top pick for Bluetooth speakers under $100, priced the same as the JBL Grip. Its rating is slightly lower, at IP67 (indicating it doesn’t handle water immersion as well as the Grip), and it does not include a companion app. It’s shorter and broader, while the Grip is taller, has a battery life of 14 hours, and frequently goes on sale for $79 or less.

Conversely, the Flip 7 offers a higher tier than the Grip, with a price tag of $149.95. You’ll enjoy 16 total hours of playback time, a 45 by 60 mm woofer and 16mm tweeter, interchangeable carrying accessories, and lossless audio playback, along with the same IP68 rating, JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost, Auracast multi-speaker connectivity, and companion app as the Grip speaker.