Design
The Pulse 4 has a rounded cylindrical build, measuring 8.2 inches tall by 3.8 inches around. At 2.8 pounds, it’s heavier than your typical portable speaker. It’s available in black or white models, but of course, the real star of the show is the interior LED panel that wraps around the midsection of the speaker enclosure.

Audio from a single 2.25-inch, 20-watt driver is projected out of the top grille, and the lower panel (that the speaker stands upright on) houses a passive radiator and is elevated slightly off the surface it sits on. The entire build has an impressive IPX7 rating, meaning it can be submerged in water up to a meter, so you can use it outside and/or by the pool.
There are various controls arranged around the top ring of the speaker, including buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing, volume up/down, and play/pause. There is also a button that controls the LED lights, and a PartyBoost button that links the speaker with other Pulse 4s to form either a stereo pair or a multi-room system (with up to 100 speakers). A USB-C port near the base is for charging only; a cable is included.
The Pulse 4 offers no speakerphone functionality, which is a surprise for its size and portable build—you’ll handle incoming calls on your mobile device itself. There’s also no aux input—you can only stream audio to it. Surely, this exclusion aids in the IPX7 build, but it’s an omission that will annoy some users.

The JBL Connect app allows you to control the LED lights, switch the speaker to PartyBoost mode, or set it to Stereo mode (where it syncs with one other Pulse 4 and they become left/right speakers). These are useful, but there’s no EQ in the app, which seems like a missed opportunity.

JBL estimates battery life to be roughly 12 hours, but your results will vary with volume levels, and use of the LEDs.

Performance
Even for a gimmick, the light show offered by the Pulse 4 is impressive. Colors blend and bleed into each other in a fluid manner. Even if the audio doesn’t always sync with what you’re seeing, it’s still entertaining—vapor-like in shape, the colors themselves are a mix of neons and pastels, glowing and constantly changing.

Features
Bring more than music to the party with the Pulse 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker from JBL. In addition to the 360° 20W speaker array, the Pulse 4 provides your guests with a high-resolution 360° LED light show. The LED lights respond to the music, but that can be adjusted via the JBL Connect App. The Pulse 4 has up to 12 hours of battery life for all-nighters, and is rated IPX7 for water resistance to splashes, letting you use it at the pool or beach. For an even bigger party, you can link the Pulse 4 to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers, including other Pulse 4 speakers.

Shake to Sync Lights
When another Pulse 4 speaker is around, simply hold your Pulse 4 to it and shake to sync both light shows together.
JBL Connect App
The JBL Connect App lets you control multiple aspects of the Pulse 4 to suit your needs. Use it to choose from a variety of light show themes, create your own, or turn off the music altogether and relax to ambient LED lights.

Highlights
360° 20W Speaker Array
Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life
360° LED Light Show
IPX7 Water Resistance
Connects to Other PartyBoost Speakers
Shake to Sync Light Shows
Wireless Bluetooth 4.2 Technology
JBL Connect App for Controlling Lighting.