JBL unveils Grip portable speaker with ambient light and Auracast
The Grip slots neatly into JBL's existing lineup of portable speakers, coming in smaller than the Flip 7 and the Charge 6 models. At 6.4 x 15.3 cm (2.5 x 6 inches) and weighing just 385 g (0.85 lb), it's definitely better suited for carrying around than its heftier siblings, though not quite like the carabiner-style Clip 5.
The Grip's party trick is the integrated ambient light on the rear panel, which can be customised with various colours and themes from the JBL Portable app. A good use of this would be to keep it with the light facing a nearby wall to act as a diffuser. Such a placement also has an acoustic benefit of boosting the bass—a nifty trick that small speakers like the Grip benefit from.
Speaking of sound, the Grip houses a single full-range driver coupled with two passive radiators, which would explain the low weight. As a result, it makes no claims of 360-degree audio and ideally should be used with the JBL logo facing the listener. Instead, the Auracast support allows you to pair two Grip speakers in a stereo configuration, or more than two Auracast-supported JBL speakers to cover a bigger area.
As is now typical of Bluetooth speakers of this size and form, the Grip excels at weathering the elements. The IP68 rating indicates great water- and dust-resistance, and JBL also claims it can easily shrug off a 1-meter drop on concrete. However, unlike some other speakers like the UE Boom 4, the Grip does not float in water, so it's probably best not to let it fall off a boat.
The battery life is claimed to be 14 hours, though it's not clear whether that takes into account the set brightness of the built-in light.
Priced at $100, the Grip can be pre-ordered in the US from JBL's website, with shipping and a wider availability from other outlets starting 28th September. The speaker will be available in six colours: black, white, purple, red, blue, and camo.
