JBL Charges On With The Charge 3 Portable Wireless Speaker

JBL has just unveiled what should be one of the best portable wireless speakers of 2016. The Charge 3 has been given a updated look to coincide with JBL's other portable speaker offerings such as the Flip 3 and Xtreme models and no longer features metal and its design in favor of a more ruggedized rubber and fabric casing that's fully waterproof. The Charge 3 boasts up to 15 hours of battery life (an upgrade over the 12 of the Charge 2+) and promises a more powerful audio experience than its predecessor. Like the Flip 3 and Xtreme, the Charge 3 can also be wirelessly linked up with multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers for an amplified listening experience while also enabling you to charge external devices using its internal battery power. The Charge 3 will be available this spring for $149.95. 

Jawbone Mini Jambox Speaker, So Portable It Can Fit In Your Pocket

Today Jawbone has finally introduced a new speaker that will join its iconic lineup of portable wireless Bluetooth speakers, the Mini Jambox. The slimmer, lighter, more portable Mini Jambox features an all-new aluminum enclosure which is available in multiple patterns and colors designed by renowned designer, Yves Behar. Internally, the Mini Jambox features the same hardware found on the original Jambox - a microphone for speakerphone functionality as well as two proprietary audio drivers and one passive bass radiator actively tweaked using Jawbone's digital signaling processing to deliver the best performing rich sound quality at any volume level.

Jawbone's Mini Jambox also features on-board music playback and speakerphone controls, Bluetooth 4.0, and a built-in rechargeable battery capable of providing 10 hours of continuous wireless music streaming, and an exclusive iOS and Android app that lets users adjust the audio settings on the Mini Jambox while also take control of their iTunes, Rdio, and Spotify music libraries using the single app.

The Mini Jambox isn't going to replace Jawbone's original Jambox speaker just yet, but it's still priced equally at $180. The new stylish wireless Bluetooth portable speaker is now available for pre-order in nine different colors and grille pattern designs, and is expected to be released later this month.

Ultimate Ears UE Boom Wireless Portable Speaker Has It All

Can't get enough of these portable Bluetooth speakers? You're in for quite a treat if you're shopping around for that awesome package of portable audio goodness because Ultimate Ears has recently come out with the UE Boom, a powerful wireless Bluetooth speaker capable of pushing out loud 360-degree sound to liven up your boring party wherever it may be. Marketed as a versatile speaker with speakerphone features and oversized on-board volume controls, the UE Boom is also built to withstand a splash of water thanks to its unique acoustic protective skin that makes it water and stain-resistant.

Its got dual 1.5-inch performance audio drivers as well as two 2-inch passive radiators to help separate bass from mids and highs, which we think is going to make the UE Boom a very compelling portable speaker at its $200 price. Other features include NFC for easy touch pairing with Android NFC enabled devices, ability to join a second UE Boom to a single audio source for a stereo sound using an iOS or Android device, and last but not least the UE Boom packs a 15-hour rechargeable battery housed inside an attractively designed body no less. You can pick one up now in 6 different colors.

JBL Outs Charge Portable Speaker, OnBeat Rumble Lightning Speaker Dock

JBL has announced of two new portable speakers to further enhance its industry leading offerings. JBL's new Charge is a $150 cylindrical portable Bluetooth stereo speaker that is very much like the company's award-winning Flip speaker, albeit more ruggedized and with a much larger built-in rechargeable battery for up to 12 hours of playback. The Charge can be placed either horizontally or vertically, and features a built-in bass port, digital sound processing for room-filling lows combined with accentuated highs. The JBL Charge is a stereo speaker with two 40mm full-range drivers and a 2 x 5-watt amplifier, same as the Flip. It will be available in several colors, including black, blue and green when it is released in the first quarter of this year.

Next in line is JBL's new OnBeat Rumble, a slightly more expensive and highly versatile $400 wireless Bluetooth Lightning speaker dock made for Apple's iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad 4 and iPod touch 5. The OnBeat Rumble's 50-watts of power, down-firing 4-1/2” subwoofer with proprietary Slipstream port technology and two 2.5” full-range drivers deliver pounding bass with low distortion, and powerful room-filling sound. JBL's OnBeat Rumble is compatible with all Bluetooth enabled audio devices, and it'll charge any of Apple's Lightning connector equipped devices while docked. The OnBeat Rumble will be available in the spring.

Soundmatters' foxL Dash 7 Pocketable Speaker Lays Low

The foxL Dash 7 by Soundmatters is a rather peculiar portable speaker designed as a flat soundbar so it can keep a low profile in order to seamlessly be put in front of your tablet or laptop without hindering your viewing pleasure, whilst maximizing the audio experience with powerful omnidirectional sound. The foxL Dash 7 may be much slimmer than Soundmatter's foxL V2 series of portable speakers, yet it should perform just as well. It features an angled stand for adjusting the direction of the audio output, extended-range wireless Bluetooth audio streaming, a dual passive radiator system, a noise-canceling microphone for use with the Dash 7's speakerphone functionality and a rechargeable battery for up to 12 hours of usage.

Soundmatter's foxL Dash 7 pocketable wireless speaker will become available later this month in four trim colors for $249. Expect many more portable speakers to spring about at this year's CES event.