JBL Grip Review: A Bluetooth Speaker With Lava Lamp Vibes

Despite the Grip’s smaller size, JBL pegs artillery beingness connected some speakers astatine the aforesaid 14-hour maximum. On the Grip astatine least, that mightiness beryllium overpromising. When I ran the talker astatine 50% measurement continuously, I lone got astir 10.5 hours. Using JBL’s PlayTime Boost mode could assistance if you truly request to eke retired a fewer much songs.

The familial similarities proceed with the Grip’s quality to withstand the elements. Like the Flip 7, it’s rated IP68, making it efficaciously particulate and waterproof. They’re some shockproof, and yet the Grip is arguably much durable since some ends are coagulated silicone rubber. The Flip’s ends are passive radiators, which could beryllium permanently damaged by a crisp object. Just support successful caput that portion the Grip won’t beryllium bothered by immersion successful water, it doesn’t float. So if you flip it successful the pool, idiosyncratic volition beryllium diving successful to retrieve it.

The 1 quality betwixt these siblings (other than size, power, and the Grip’s built-in airy show) is orientation. While the Flip 7 tin beryllium utilized vertically oregon horizontally, the Grip is designed for vertical usage only. Not that there’s thing stopping you from laying it down — the built-in loop volition support it from rolling excessively far. But the controls are positioned for easier entree erstwhile lasting up, and the rear LED sheet volition extremity up partially obscured if the talker is sideways.

Lava Lamp

Speaking of that LED panel, it’s a amusive add-on, but don’t expect it to airy up your get-together. There are 4 colors to take from (purple, red, an icy-blue, and a vibrant blue) controlled by the JBL Portables app, and 5 show modes: 4 that animate and 1 that’s static. At afloat brightness, it can’t vie with a well-lit room, and outdoors, you’ll decidedly person to support your expectations successful check. Still, successful a darkened room, with the Grip adjacent a country oregon wall, it tin make a subtle mood. Unfortunately, the 4 animated modes (Bounce, Trim, Switch, and Neon) don’t sync to your music, truthful the effect is much lava lamp than disco light. If you privation a beat-coordinated airy show, see the fantabulous Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($40), which has a top-mounted LED ringing with this feature.

The 1 happening astir the LED sheet that perplexes maine is its placement: it’s connected the “rear” of the speaker. If you tin spot the airy show, it means the Grip’s azygous racetrack operator is facing distant from you. It’s not a monolithic quality successful dependable quality, but it’s noticeable, particularly successful the precocious midranges and highs, which suffer immoderate of their clarity.