JBL's cheapest Bluetooth speaker just dropped to silly money – so I'm buying three for Black Friday

Deals
By published

For me, it's JBL Go (buy) 3 

JBL Go 3 speaker in blue on pink TR background, with 'Black Friday deals' poster
(Image credit: JBL)

The big day we call Black Friday isn't technically here yet (although it's coming up fast, friends) but if you sit around and wait 'til the big day itself you might miss out on some of the best deals. So that's why I'm here.

I've just spotted 25% off one of the best budget portable speakers I've ever heard, made by JBL, and Amazon confirms it's "selling fast" – which it would do, because right now it's just $29.95 (was $39.95) at the huge online retailer.

• Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

You might have noticed that it's not the newest Go on the block – the JBL Go 4 superseded it in May 2024. But look, it's a tiny Bluetooth speaker – you simply want it to play tunes from a nearby device. And even though the the JBL Go 3 was released in October 2020, it's still a great little player and it's the cheapest thing in the current lineup.

It is so small that you can easily hook it to your bag or even a key ring and for me, there's not one single thing wrong with the sound quality for this money. OK, newer products (like the JBL Clip 5, say) have a longer battery life and more power but they'll cost almost double the price of the Go 3 even on sale – although I'll link to the best alternative deals where you are (just scroll down a little further in this piece).

There are myriad Black Friday deals live now (our Black Friday Bluetooth speakers roundup has plenty more where this JBL came from – although the product you're reading about here is my top choice), but I've also got a roundup of Sennheiser headphones and earbuds deals, my collection of the best Bose Black Friday headphones deals, my more general Black Friday headphones and earbuds deals recommendations or our dedicated Black Friday headphones deals live blog, if that's what you're after.

  • Not looking for headphones, Bluetooth speakers or earbuds and wondering how you got here? That's OK. TechRadar's more general Black Friday deals roundup will help – and it's still curated by actual humans

Today's best Black Friday cheap JBL portable speaker deal

JBL Go 3 Portable Speaker
Save 25% ($10)
JBL Go 3 Portable Speaker: was $39.95 now $29.95 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

The JBL Go 3 is a great budget-friendly portable speaker even at full price, but luckily for me, it just got even cheaper. With sound that's more than good enough to sit by your desk or at the park (and will walk all over the tiny speakers built into the edge of your phone, if that's what you're currently using), the Go 3 is the cheapest way to level up picnics, lunch al desko or even the shower thanks to its IP67 rating (which means you can even submerge it in water for half an hour and it'll still live). It might have been superseded by newer models, but at under $30 you can't beat it from a trusted name in audio.

View Deal

The JBL Go 3 is so compact (even cute, if you prefer the term), durable and rugged. It is ideal for taking with you on camping trips or away days. I also love the IP67 rating, because it certifies that the JBL Go 3 is waterproof and dust-proof enough to endure outdoor hazards like rain, mud or a trip to the beach or pool.

The one fly in the ointment is that it can only last up to five hours on a single charge, but for this money I can overlook the slightly sub-par battery life because this thing is rock-solid, chic and provides much better audio than you'd think from looking at it.

Simply pair it to your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other Bluetooth device and you're good to go. And the deal is also good for multiple colors including black, blue, gray, and red.

Still not sure it's for you? I'll link to a few alternative top deals right now – all TechRadar tested and approved. Happy shopping, music lover!

More Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals to consider

JBL Go 4
Save 20% ($10)
JBL Go 4: was $49.95 now $39.95 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

The newer Go model is also discounted, but it's $10 more expensive than the deal I listed above. In our JBL Go 4 review, we said that "if you’re looking for a conveniently sized and reliably designed speaker on a budget, you won’t be disappointed with the JBL Go 4." It's a great go-anywhere speaker that we rate as being our preferred cheap option among the best Bluetooth speakers – it was already aggressively priced, and this deal makes it even more attractive.

View Deal
JBL Clip 5
Save 25% ($20)
JBL Clip 5: was $79.95 now $59.95 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

The cute Clip 5 sounds fantastic for such a small speaker and delivers surprisingly hefty bass, as we said in our JBL Clip 5 review. With adjustable EQ, Auracast connectivity, IP67 dust and water resistance and long battery life, our reviewer said it's "an ideal outdoor speaker". This isn't quite the cheapest it's ever been, but it's still a great price.

View Deal
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
Save 40% ($40)
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4: was $99.99 now $59.99 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

At full price we gave the Wonderboom 4 four and a half stars out of five. It's small but mighty for indoor and outdoor use, and if you want a punchy speaker that's still as small as a coffee mug then this is an excellent option. It was, and is, one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy – especially at this price.

View Deal
Soundcore Select 4 Go
Save 43% ($15)
Soundcore Select 4 Go: was $34.99 now $19.99 at Amazon
Read moreRead less

We've reviewed many Soundcore speakers and been consistently impressed by their ability to punch above their price tag. While this is the one speaker here we haven't tested yet, we just had to mention it: it's specifically for the shower singers (or outdoor explorers, we guess) as it has IP67 dust and water resistance. And while a speaker this small isn't going to rock the block, it promises a surprisingly big sound and boasts 10 hours of battery life.

View Deal

Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales

CATEGORIES
Becky Scarrott
Becky Scarrott
Audio Editor

Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.  

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