The JBL Xtreme 4 does one thing the newer Xtreme 5 can’t

The JBL Xtreme 5 is here, and in most ways, it’s the speaker I’d rather own. It has more bass strength, adds lighting, and gets a little louder than the Xtreme 4. Normally, that would make the newer model an easy choice.

But after testing both speakers, I found one reason I’d still consider buying the Xtreme 4. It can do something no other JBL speaker can, and if you already own an older JBL PartyBoost speaker, that one feature could make the Xtreme 4 the better buy.

The Xtreme 4 is the only JBL speaker with PartyBoost and Auracast

The Xtreme 4 arrived at an interesting time for JBL. The company was moving from its older PartyBoost system to Auracast, and for whatever reason, JBL gave the Xtreme 4 support for both. I’ve tested my way through JBL’s entire lineup, and the Xtreme 4 is the only speaker I’ve found that can actually do both.

That means the Xtreme 4 can connect to older PartyBoost speakers like the Charge 5 and Flip 6, as well as newer JBL speakers that use Auracast, like the Charge 6 and Flip 7. The Xtreme 5, on the other hand, only supports Auracast, so those older speakers get left behind.

I tested this myself with the Xtreme 4 and a PartyBoost speaker, a Charge 5, and sure enough, they connected and played together. Try the same thing with the newer Xtreme 5, and that connection is no longer possible. It’s Auracast only.

It’s a strange little advantage for an older speaker to have, but if you’ve already spent money building up a collection of JBL speakers over the years, it’s a pretty useful one.

You might already own a speaker that the Xtreme 5 can’t connect to

That compatibility matters more when you look at how many PartyBoost speakers JBL sold before switching to Auracast. The Flip 5, Flip 6, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, Boombox 2 and 3, and Pulse 4 and 5 all use PartyBoost. Considering how long these speakers have been on the market, I’d bet plenty of people still have one kicking around.

Let’s say you already own a Charge 5 and want something bigger. Buy the Xtreme 5, and both speakers will still work perfectly well on their own, but you can’t link them together. Buy the Xtreme 4 instead, and suddenly, that Charge 5 can join the party.

There is a limit to how far back this goes. Older JBL speakers that use Connect or Connect+, like the Charge 4, aren’t compatible with PartyBoost, so the Xtreme 4 can’t magically bring every old JBL speaker into the mix.

Still, if you already have a PartyBoost speaker, I’d think twice before automatically buying the Xtreme 5. Being able to keep using a speaker you already paid for might matter more than getting JBL’s latest model.

The Xtreme 4 might be the better buy while it’s still around

If I were starting from scratch, I’d still buy the Xtreme 5. It gets a little louder, has more bass strength, and I like the addition of the new lighting. But it’s not like you’re settling for a bad speaker with the Xtreme 4. It still rocks two woofers compared to the single larger woofer in the Xtreme 5, and I’ve enjoyed using it since it came out.

That’s especially true now that the Xtreme 4 is regularly going on sale. You’re getting an excellent Bluetooth speaker for less money, but more importantly, you’re not leaving your PartyBoost speakers behind. And if you buy an Auracast speaker down the road, the Xtreme 4 can come along for that ride, too.

That’s what changed how I look at these two speakers. The Xtreme 5 is the better speaker on its own, but buying a Bluetooth speaker isn’t always about starting from scratch. If I already had a Charge 5, Flip 6, or another PartyBoost speaker kicking around the house, I’d save some money and grab the Xtreme 4 while I still can.