JBL Authentics 200 Smart Speaker - Black vs Authentics 300 Portable Smart Speaker - Black — Comparison

Authentics 200 is the JBL Authentics 200 Smart Speaker in Black, priced at £299.99, while Authentics 300 is the JBL Authentics 300 Portable Smart Speaker in Black, priced at £279. Both sit in JBL's retro-styled Authentics smart speaker range, but the 200 is the mains-style smart speaker option, while the 300 is the portable version with battery power at a slightly lower price.

The Authentics 200 offers retro design, stereo 2.0 sound, Bluetooth and WiFi, JBL One App control, plus Alexa and Google Assistant support. It is focused on connected home listening with a clear stereo specification. The Authentics 300 keeps the same retro design direction and also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, Google Assistant and Alexa, but adds up to 8 hours of battery life. Its supplied features describe smart stereo speakers rather than stereo 2.0 sound, so the main functional upgrade is portability rather than a more detailed audio-channel claim.

Choose the Authentics 200 if you want a smart speaker for a fixed spot such as a kitchen, shelf or living room sideboard and prefer the listed stereo 2.0 sound specification. It costs £20.99 more, but makes sense if you do not need battery-powered use. The Authentics 300 is the more flexible choice for moving between rooms, taking into the garden or listening away from a plug socket for up to 8 hours. It is also cheaper, so the only real reason to favour the 200 is fixed-room stereo confidence rather than portability.

Bottom line: choose Authentics 200 if you want a fixed JBL smart speaker with stereo 2.0 sound and app control / opt for Authentics 300 if portability and up to 8 hours of battery life matter more.