2026-02-23, 08:13 PM
I can't say that JBL speakers are the best for escaping the Apple ecosystem, though JBL speakers are so far the only BT speakers I've used so far. They seem pretty decent for their intended purpose (i.e., do 1 thing well). (There is always some OEM smartphone app with any prominent brands of BT speakers, but it's entirely optional. So, all the JBL speakers below would pass the "DankPods" test - i.e., they work without a cloud-based account &/or updating the firmware.) The Flip 4 seems reasonable enough to replace the internal battery without compromising the waterproofing/dustproofing, but YMMV.
I have the JBL Flip 4, which I bought from eBay 2-3 years ago. This model (as well as the others mentioned below) was not being sold new anymore from JBL anymore at the time of purchase. The Flip 4 is conveniently small enough to bring on group bike rides.
I also have a bunch of other speakers, but I don't get to use them as much. I have: the JBL Charge 4, the JBL Xtreme 4, and JBL Boombox 3. All of these BT speaker models are the last ones in their respective model lines to have a 3.5mm audio jack. As long as you have active audio when it's turned on, I use the Charge 4 to make the audio of a handful of remote Zoom callers during mostly in-person board meetings for my own AV solutions, DIY style. The Xtreme 4 is large enough, but not too large, to transport over short distances through active modes of transport. However, the Boombox 3 is definitely being at least towed, if not being driven around before being placed in a single location to play music loudly.
If you're brave enough to install third-party apps (so, not even from F-Droid, Aurora Store, Accrescent, or Obtanium) on Android; then you may consider installing the ConnectPlus app: https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus
If you're even braver, then you can consider building the Android app from source - as described at the 2 links below to flash additional formats that the JBL speaker firmware may come in:
* https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus/issues/58
* https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus/pull/102
(Updating JBL speaker firmware may improve how they sound, but fundamentally nothing is going to change their speaker geometry & other fixed aspects of their respective physical chassis.)
I have the JBL Flip 4, which I bought from eBay 2-3 years ago. This model (as well as the others mentioned below) was not being sold new anymore from JBL anymore at the time of purchase. The Flip 4 is conveniently small enough to bring on group bike rides.
I also have a bunch of other speakers, but I don't get to use them as much. I have: the JBL Charge 4, the JBL Xtreme 4, and JBL Boombox 3. All of these BT speaker models are the last ones in their respective model lines to have a 3.5mm audio jack. As long as you have active audio when it's turned on, I use the Charge 4 to make the audio of a handful of remote Zoom callers during mostly in-person board meetings for my own AV solutions, DIY style. The Xtreme 4 is large enough, but not too large, to transport over short distances through active modes of transport. However, the Boombox 3 is definitely being at least towed, if not being driven around before being placed in a single location to play music loudly.
If you're brave enough to install third-party apps (so, not even from F-Droid, Aurora Store, Accrescent, or Obtanium) on Android; then you may consider installing the ConnectPlus app: https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus
If you're even braver, then you can consider building the Android app from source - as described at the 2 links below to flash additional formats that the JBL speaker firmware may come in:
* https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus/issues/58
* https://github.com/pembem22/connect-plus/pull/102
(Updating JBL speaker firmware may improve how they sound, but fundamentally nothing is going to change their speaker geometry & other fixed aspects of their respective physical chassis.)
