Soundcore Select 4 Go review: Is this the best budget speaker under $40?

The Soundcore Select 4 Go is Anker’s ultra-affordable entry into the ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker scene. It promises “vibrant sound” and rugged durability in a palm-sized package. While it’s not quite as compact as the JBL Go 4, despite its similar name, it does claim twice the battery life. So, is this affordable grab-and-go speaker ready to be your next adventure companion? I took it outdoors to find out in this Soundcore Select 4 Go review.

What I like about the Soundcore Select 4 Go

The Soundcore Select 4 Go checks most of the boxes for an ultra-portable, grab-and-go speaker. Its enclosure is wrapped in durable fabric with a rubberized control strip and a cover protecting the USB-C port, keeping dust and debris out. Rubber feet on the bottom allow you to use the Select 4 Go as an upward-firing speaker, and a loop attachment makes it easy to clip to a backpack or get creative with placement when you’re out and about. Thanks to its IP67 rating, the Select 4 Go is both dustproof and waterproof, and it even floats. If you’re spending a day at the lake, you won’t have to worry about it sinking.

You’ll find the usual playback controls on top of the speaker’s enclosure, and I was happy to discover that the Select 4 Go also supports the Soundcore app. It offers a few useful features like pairing a second Select 4 Go for stereo performance, and most notably, a customizable EQ, so you can really dial in this tiny speaker to your taste, as much as physics will allow, of course. Don’t expect any skull-rattling bass from a compact speaker of this size. Additionally, as much as I love a good graphic EQ, I’m also a fan of being able to power down the speaker directly from the app. A feature I’d love to see with all companion apps.

The Select 4 Go also advertises considerable battery life for an ultra-portable speaker. It claims up to 20 hours of playback at 40% volume, more than double the JBL Go 4’s 7 hours of battery life, and will technically outlast the JBL Clip 5’s 12 hours. This is plenty for a few days of use, but it’s important to remember that battery life depends on how loud you crank your speaker and how bass-heavy your music is.

Speaking of cranking your tunes, the Soundcore Select 4 Go sounds perfectly fine for an ultra-portable, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker. It delivers a surprisingly full sound for its compact size. However, I did notice some sibilance on tracks like “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, especially in the “snap” of the snare and the stick attack on the hi-hats. Thankfully, the 9-band customizable EQ in the Soundcore app allows you to reduce that shrillness, and you can even squeeze out some more bass response while you’re at it for a fuller kick drum sound.

As long as you remember that the Select 4 Go is a small, ultra-portable speaker, you’ll most likely enjoy how it sounds. It delivers clear, enjoyable audio for its size, just don’t expect booming bass or room-shaking volume.

What I don’t like about the Soundcore Select 4 Go

Considering its budget-friendly price, there’s not much to complain about with the Soundcore Select 4 Go. Sure, the fabric-wrapped enclosure doesn’t have the refined fit and finish of pricier options like the JBL Clip 5, but that’s to be expected at this price point.

That said, I was also able to pull off one of the rubber feet on the bottom of the enclosure a bit too easily, which raises some concerns about long-term durability. If you’re rough on your gear, it’s something to keep in mind. Still, for just $35, the real selling points here are the surprisingly solid sound quality and dependable battery life.

How does the Soundcore Select 4 Go compare to the JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 5?

There’s a lot to like about the Select 4 Go, but despite its ultra-portable design, it’s still not the most pocket-friendly speaker out there. The JBL Go 4 ($49.95 at Amazon) is both smaller and lighter at just 190g, making it easy to forget it’s even in your pocket or bag.

Weighing 263g, the Select 4 Go is actually closer in size and heft to the JBL Clip 5 ($79.95 at Amazon) which tips the scales at 285g, though it comes at nearly twice the price. That said, in terms of performance, the Select 4 Go is much more in line with the JBL Go 4 when it comes to output and bass response. The JBL Clip 5, on the other hand, delivers more power at 7W compared to the Select 4 Go’s 5W. If you’re after deeper bass and more output in a similarly compact form, the Clip 5 outperforms the Select 4 in just about every way, except battery life.

Should you buy the Soundcore Select 4 Go?

The Soundcore Select 4 Go delivers good sound for its size and offers no shortage of value, especially if battery life is high on your list. It may not be the most compact ultra-portable speaker out there, but it punches above its weight with its performance, app features, and a budget-friendly price. If you’re looking for a speaker under $40 that you can toss in a bag, take outdoors, or just use on the back deck with a few friends, the Select 4 Go is well worth considering.

Soundcore Select 4 Go review: FAQs