JBL just released the Boombox 4 in China, giving us our first clear look at the speaker, outside of leaked information. The Chinese release has also coincided with leaked imagery of the English spec sheet, suggesting a global release is just around the corner.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new JBL Boombox 4, including its likely release dates and technical specifications.
Table of Contents
- Release Date
- First Views
- Specs & Features
- JBL Boombox 3 vs Boombox 4
- Should you upgrade from the Boombox 3?
- Frequently asked questions
Release Date: The JBL Boombox 4 Has Begun Rolling Out in Asia, With More Countries To Follow Shortly
No more speculation needed, the JBL Boombox 4 began its international rollout in the middle of August 2025, with China getting to experience it first.
While there isn’t an official European or American release date provided, it is widely expected that the Boombox 4 will be rolling out to more countries in September, with a full global release likely completed by the end of October, assuming JBL follows previous trends.
Official Announcement To Be Made At IFA Berlin
The JBL Boombox 4 will be showcased at the global market at IFA Berlin in September, where the official international release dates will be announced. IFA Berlin begins in early September and runs for several days (Fri, 05 Sept 2025 – Tue, 09 Sept 2025).
First Looks at The JBL Boombox 4
The following images have been shared across social media and tech groups, so the source has been obscured a bit, but I believe these images were initially published by CanalTech.
With official marketing material now available in China, we’ve been able to confirm that these images are of the Boombox 4, and we even have some still images shared on Reddit showing a YouTuber who took the speaker apart.
Most notable is the Boombox 4’s return to a classic 2-way driver design with dual woofers and tweeters, meaning there’s no more dedicated subwoofer, a feature added with the Boombox 3.
JBL Boombox 4 Specs (Confirmed)
No more speculation needed! We finally have our first views of the actual Boombox 4 specifications, and they’re even better than the early rumors suggested. Let’s run through the basic data first, before looking at its implications and how they compare to the specs of its predecessor.
| Power Output (AC): | 210W |
| Power Output (Battery): | 200W |
| Woofers: | 2x 5″ |
| Tweeters: | 2x 0.7″ |
| Frequency Response Range: | 37 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Battery: | 99.02Wh |
| Battery Life: | Up to 34 Hours |
| Charging Time: | 3 Hours |
| Ports: | AC-Input / USB-C Output |
| Water-Resistance: | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Profiles: | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6 |
| Bluetooth: | 5.4 |
| Multi-Speaker Pairing: | Yes (Auracast) |
| Wi-Fi: | Optional variant |
| Companion App: | Yes (JBL Portable) |
| Dimensions: | 19.9 x 10.4 x 8.4″ |
| Weight: | 13 Lbs |
Differences Between The JBL Boombox 3 vs the Boombox 4
With these technical specs now available, we can look at how they compare with the previous generation and how these changes affect the performance between these two speakers.
Increased Output Power Is Likely To Translate To More Volume
With up to 30W of additional power output over the previous generation, the Boombox 4 will likely get a bit louder than its predecessor. This would be a welcome change, as one of the most common complaints from the Boombox 3 was the decrease in volume from the Boombox 2.
Wider Frequency Response Range Suggests Deeper Bass
A deeper bass extension suggests the Boombox 4 will have deeper bass than the Boombox 3, which is interesting, since the Boombox 3 has a dedicated subwoofer, while the Boombox 4 goes back to the classic 2-way driver setup.
Longer Battery Life, And Now Featuring PlaytimeBoost
The Boombox 4 will give you more playtime than the Boombox 3, lasting up to 34 hours with the PlaytimeBoost feature enabled, or closer to 28 hours with it off. Even without PlaytimeBoost active, it offers a 4-hour advantage.
Upgraded Bluetooth With Auracast Multi-Speaker Pairing
Bluetooth is upgraded to 5.4, which offers some small security benefits and slightly better signal reliability. However, the most significant change that comes with this upgrade is the added support for Auracast pairing.
This means that while the Boombox 3 is stuck pairing to the previous generation of JBL speakers, the Boombox 4 will be pairable with more than half a dozen different models released in the last 18 months.
Improved Weather Protection
Although relatively minor in its effect, the waterproofing has been upgraded from IP67 to IP68. The only real difference here is that the Boombox 4 can stay underwater a bit longer than the Boombox 3, but the exact time is to be announced, as IPX8/IP68 doesn’t have a specified amount of time.
New AI Sound Boost Feature For Optimized Audio, Wherever You Are
Think of JBL’s AI Sound Boost as an autocorrect for audio. When the speaker is pushed beyond its limits or placed in an area where sound isn’t being dispersed efficiently, the AI Sound Boost will adjust the speaker’s audio profile to provide more clarity and reduce distortion.
Removal of 3.5mm Aux Input
A downside of the upgrade, however, is JBL’s decision to remove the 3.5mm aux input from the Boombox 4. Meaning you’ll have to connect wirelessly to use it.
Is It Worth Upgrading From The Boombox 3?
The only way to really tell is to wait until the Boombox 4 is released and see how it performs in the real world. However, here’s what we, as professionals in the Bluetooth speaker industry, believe…
The Upgrade To The Boombox 4 Isn’t Probably Isn’t Necessary If You’re Still Happy With Your Speaker
The Boombox 3 is still a very capable speaker, even years later. It’s not showing its age much, and still has most of the benefits of modern releases. If you’re happy with the way your Boombox 3 sounds, you don’t need to rush off to buy the Boombox 4.
However, there are some areas where the Boombox 4 has a distinct advantage and where an upgrade will make sense. Consider upgrading if you find:
- You want more battery life.
- You’d like more water protection for peace of mind.
- You have other JBL speakers that support Auracast.
- You want a bit more power.
