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To many, Highguard promised to be the anticipated spiritual successor to hit battle royale Apex Legends. After all the developer, Wildcard Entertainment, is made up of Respawn Entertainment veterans, and links to Apex and Titanfall were mentioned in the new title's marketing.

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Release date: January 26, 2026

At first glance, the comparison holds: it’s a squad-based 3v3 shooter with fantastic-feeling gunplay, a similar weapon progression system, a comparable art style, and, perhaps most importantly, the same shadow-drop release strategy (well – until an early The Game Awards reveal gave away the secret). But I’ve spent 15 hours in Highguard in its first week, and I’m not convinced that it can hold people’s attention as long as Apex has. It still feels a few major and minor tweaks away from being a Legendary hit – but a few months’ wait could see it transform into a gem.

Highguard is set in a fantasy-meets-guns world, and sees you loot and shoot in matches lasting between six and 30 minutes. Rounds take place in medium-sized maps, and they see each squad scavenging for supplies and gear, before trying to carry a spawning Shieldbreaker artifact to the opponents’ base and, if successful, embark on a raid wherein they must plant and defend explosives to lower a base’s health.

That’s a thoroughly truncated version of how the rounds work. Highguard can be a little complicated at times, and the game does little to clear up what various limited-respawn rounds or overtime timers actually mean. I’d played at least 10 matches before it all became clear: this is just Capture the Flag and Search and Destroy, with extra frills.

(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)

As of launch, these Raid battles are all that's available: no single-player, no other round styles.

The heart of the action

At its core, Highguard is a fantastic shooter. It feels crisp, frenetic, responsive; firing guns, traversing the environment and juggling hero powers all feels amazing. The tense and tactical squad combat ported over from Apex feels even more heart-pounding when you’ve got an objective to destroy or enemy carrying a Shieldbearer to fell. But that nourishing main course is surrounded by a few lukewarm entrees.

Take Wardens: the game launched with eight, but they’re not all equal. You’ll scarcely play a match without someone picking Kai, whose instant ice walls dictate the movement of battles, or Una and their summonable grenade-lobbing wisps. But other heroes barely get used, with powers that are too situational to be worth picking.

(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)

Similarly, the guns aren’t balanced at launch. Assault rifles, the revolver, and sniper rifles are all solid, but close-quarters guns like shotguns and SMGs don't justify inventory space, either for their slow time-to-kill, lack of function over distance, or simply being outclassed by a similar weapon. You can only carry two guns, after all (plus a raid weapon, like a sledgehammer or rocket launcher), so it pays to choose wisely.

Possibly the most damning part of the game, and the thing that stops it from matching Apex, is that it can grow repetitive. Matches feel similar: you’re always spawning in the same spots, picking the same wardens, using the same guns, playing on the same small maps, and opening chests to find the same restricted pool of loot.

This latter is the problem that needs fixing the most. There are no health pick-ups, since it refills on its own. There are no ammo pick-ups, since you spawn with all you’ll need. Attachments don’t exist. There's little need to hunt for the perfect weapon, since you spawn with whichever guns you'd like. And since gear rarity is tied to progression, with better weapons and shields spawning in each subsequent round, there’s no need to keep opening chests in the hopes of a rare game-changer until you're on the last round, when every chest has them.

(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)

I found myself longing for the battle royale title, where the rhythm of the match would be dictated by randomness: where the drop ship began, and what gear and power-ups I found.

Repetitive gameplay can suit some shooters like Call of Duty, where you’re always seconds from a gunfight. But in Highguard, you’ve got minutes of downtime spent mining for resources or waiting for the Shieldbreaker to spawn, in which to ponder “could I be doing something better with my time?”.

At launch, there are five maps, chosen at random. They all consist of some main areas: your enemy’s base and your team’s base, which you choose from a limited pool before the match begins. The number of loot chests feels inconsistent between them, but generally predictable in each: the red gun chests and blue support chests are largely in those three central points.

(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)

Despite what some online commenters say, I never found the maps were too big; you’re always told where the Shieldbreaker will spawn next, and where air support crates will drop, so it’s easy to make an informed decision as to where the enemy will be – and they're quick to traverse, with ziplines and a mount-summoning system that feels ripped straight out of Elden Ring.

Taking the High(guard) road

It’s a little hard to review Highguard, given that the game will change in the short and long term. Wildcard has promised at least a year of season - sorry, Episodes, coming every other month.

These promise new wardens, weapons, matches, bases, and cosmetics, and I see the game only getting better as the year goes on. They come alongside numerous patches and tweaks, with two coming in the first week of release.

A 5v5 mode was released due to negative first-impression response from gamers, but it plays far worse than 3v3, given how the game is clearly optimized for six players. And a few changes to raid rounds, including reduced attacker lives and a longer respawn timer, mean you spend more time twiddling your thumbs and less time fighting.

(Image credit: Wildcard Entertainment)

Both, in my eyes, make the game worse, but they show the developers’ eagerness to experiment and make changes. I’m hopeful that many of the issues other players and I have had with Highguard can be fixed in the near future.

The in-game store updates every few days, with daily and weekly challenges too, so there are still reasons to come back in the short term. And, thankfully, there are plenty of cosmetics to buy via earned-in-game currencies (though you can spend money on premium ones, if you like).

One other thing I hope to see more of in the future? Some story, other than a few brief lines heroes exchange at the beginning of matches, and what can be inferred from the maps, the fantasy-meets-guns world is a total mystery. Something about a new continent? About some kind of academy? Factories? Your guess is as good as mine, but I'm eager to learn more. Apex basically told its entire story through character introduction trailers, and I suppose Highguard will be the same.

Should you play Highguard?Play it if...

You love tense, tactical, crisp gunplay
Apex's tight and crisp gunplay is back here in force, and it'll particularly appeal to gamers who love objective-based styles of online shooter.

You're playing long after release
Wildcard’s long road map for Highguard ensures it’s only going to get better, so the older the publish date of this review is, the more it’s worth recommending… hopefully.

You're curious
Highguard is free to play, and even its microtransactions feel unobtrusive. If you're even the least bit curious, there's no harm in trying it out.

Don't play it if...

You want long-range or close-quarters firefights
The long-distance Battlefield-style large-map play, and close-quarters Call of Duty-style firefights, exist together in Highguard. Don't play if you only like one or the other.

You're expecting a battle royale
Due to the Apex link, many people were likely hoping Highguard would be more of the same. It plays similarly, but scratches a very different kind of itch.

Accessibility

Highguard has a small handful of accessibility features: subtitles and support for ten languages (including English, Spanish, and French).

That's not the biggest list I've ever seen, but just like the in-game content, it's possible that Wildcard will improve this over time.

Visually, many of its features can be turned off to improve performance or cater to visual accessibility. You can remove chromatic aberration and motion blur, toggle the FOV slider, and tweak the quality of effects, shading, foliage, and more.

How I reviewed Highguard

At the time of writing this review, my play time for Highguard on Steam stands at 15 hours. A small handful of those will be from opening day issues: failing to get into the tutorial, games crashing, and loading issues. But I’d estimate at least 12 of those are playing various raid matches. I made sure to play multiple rounds with each character, although there are some I found myself favoring more.

I also briefly tested 5v5 mode when it came out, and checked back in for each patch during the first week.

I played on my custom-built PC, which uses an RTX 3060 Ti, Asrock Z590 Phantom Gaming, and 16GB RAM. I played both on Wi-Fi (22Mbps average speed) and Ethernet (70Mbps average speed). My monitor is the Eve Spectrum 4K 144Hz, and I alternated audio between the Creative Pebble Nova speakers and AKG N9 headphones. For controls, I used the Clutch GM41 Lightweight mouse and the Logitech G213 Prodigy keyboard.

First reviewed February 2026

Highguard feels fantastic to play, but it's a few major updates away from being the online shooter it wants to be.

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JBL Boombox 4: two-minute review

The JBL Boombox 4 is the latest high-end option in JBL’s popular consumer Bluetooth speaker lineup, and so has some pretty big shoes to fill. Its predecessor, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi has become a mainstay recommendation for anyone searching for one of the best Bluetooth speakers on audio forums or social media thanks to its durable design, impressive sound, and decent level of portability.

All of these qualities remain true in this slightly more expensive follow-up, so the biggest question is whether the JBL Boombox 4 is actually an upgrade. For my money, the answer is yes.

Where the Boombox 3 offered a three-way system with a dedicated subwoofer, the Boombox 4 relies on a two-way system that replaces the subwoofer with a passive radiator. On paper this might seem like a bit of a downgrade, but in the real world the Boombox 4 sounds just as clear as the 3 Wi-Fi, though actually enhanced by noticeably richer bass.

It’s also significantly louder, capable of reaching up to an eardrum decimating 105dB – that’s about as loud as your average car horn and more than enough to ensure it can be heard across even large outdoor venues. Just be warned that the sound starts to hollow out the closer you get to these absurd volumes, though that’s to be expected in a speaker of this relatively modest 20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm size.

(Image credit: Future)

I’m sure some audiophiles will argue the Boombox 4 reproduces sound less faithfully than the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi overall and that some of the mid-range is sacrificed for this loud and booming tuning. To that I would say go buy a Bose Soundlink Max, and steer clear of a product line that’s explicitly designed for party settings where loudness and bass are king.

Unlike the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, there’s also no audible difference in performance when the Boombox 4 is unplugged (on paper you do lose about 5W of power in each of the two woofers, though I would challenge anyone to notice without a spectrogram) which makes it a more practical pick for events.

Adding to that practically is the fact that the JBL Boombox 4 is also more futureproof than any older model to date. It features a user replaceable battery (make sure you buy the JBL Battery 600, as there are a few similar looking models on the official website) so you don’t need to worry about your expensive speaker becoming e-waste after a few years thanks to battery degradation.

JBL even now sells battery charging cradles that allow you to keep a topped up cell on hand as a useful spare. You’re also getting Auracast support, letting you pair it up easily with any compatible models, such as the recently released JBL Grip or JBL Flip 7.

Are all these changes enough for existing Boombox 3 Wi-Fi owners to justify running out to drop $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95 on a new speaker? I don’t think so given the lofty price tag, but if you’re buying for the first time, then this new version is a clear, and forward-thinking, choice.

JBL Boombox 4 review: price and release date

• Costs $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95
• Launched in September 2025
• Has already dropped by almost $100 / £100

The JBL Boombox 4 launched in September 2025 and retails for $549.95 / £449.99 /AU$699.95 officially. That’s about $100 / £100 more than you can find the older JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi right now, though you should note that the Boombox 4 has already received some significant discounts at times.

Indeed, at the time of writing it can be yours for $449.95 / £355.99 via the official JBL website, with the potential for even better deals at retailers like Amazon – this goes great way towards close the gap between the two models.

At similar prices, the JBL Boombox 4 is the best bet as it boasts newer features like the Auracast support, plus louder sound, richer bass, and that user replaceable battery for longevity.

The JBL Boombox 4 is available in three colorways: the green camo inspired Squad, a cheerful Blue, and rather basic Black

JBL Boombox 4 review: specs

Weight

13lbs / 5.89kg

Dimensions

20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C (lossless)

Battery life

Up to 28 hours

Speaker drivers

2 x 65W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on battery power) / 2 x 60W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on AC power)

Waterproofing

IP68

(Image credit: Future)JBL Boombox 4 review: features

• Two bass boost modes with basic lighting
• Playtime boost for extended battery life
• Auracast support and robust companion app

The JBL Boombox 4 is loaded with all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a modern JBL speaker. There’s Bluetooth 5.4 support, plus the option to use a USB-C cable for lossless audio playback (or even charge your phone in a pinch).

It’s got Auracast with a pairing button to activate the feature, which allows you to easily pair (nearly) countless compatible speakers together. There are also two optional bass boost modes, Deep and Punch, toggled via a dedicated button or in the JBL Portable app.

Although Punchy is definitely my preference of the two, I tended to stay away from either, because while they do increase bass noticeably, they tend to overpower the sound leading to a much less pleasant listening experience.

With Deep bass activated, the JBL logos on the two massive passive radiators on each end of the speaker illuminate in a bright pulsing orange which then turns white when Deep is enabled. It’s a lovely effect, but I do wish there was a way to turn it on independently of these bass modes, or even just the option to customize the colors of either. You can at least disable it entirely if you wish.

Aside from your usual power, Bluetooth pairing, play, pause, and volume controls, the rest of the major features are accessible via the excellent JBL Portable app. This includes a range of equalizer settings plus a screen to create your own using a seven-band EQ.

If battery life is a concern, you can turn on Playtime Boost – a feature also found in other JBL speakers, and that my colleague Harry Padoan strongly recommends in other models. It enables you to squeeze out an extra few hours of playtime, but in this case it leaves the Boombox 4 sounding incredibly hollow, with little bass and a totally obliterated mid and high range. It's good to have just in case, but you’re probably not going to want to use this unless you’re really desperate.

This is especially true given the already superb battery performance of the speaker. JBL quotes a battery life of up to 28 hours, though I was able to push it above the 35 hour mark on lower (but still very listenable) volume,s which is impressive.

If you slap the volume up on max and enable a bass boost mode, you can expect a figure around the five to 10-hour range depending on your choice of music – enough to last for the bulk of a party and trigger a few noise complaints.

• Features score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Boombox 4 review: sound quality

• Clear sound with booming bass
• Sweet spot below 70% volume
• Prone to distortion in certain instances

For the most part, the JBL Boombox 4 delivers sublime sound – especially if you keep it below around 70% volume (that’s still plenty loud enough for a party unless you particularly loathe your neighbors, mind you).

The energetic percussion of Readymade by Ado packs a serious punch without diminishing the quality of the dramatic vocals, which come clearly with an impressive amount of detail, or the treble. The hectic Mirror Tune by Zutomayo demonstrates strong instrument separation in spite of the bold bass, with a rich and full sound that is a delight to listen to on repeat. Japanese hip-hop anthem Harenchi by Chanmina produced a delightfully rich sub-bass while simultaneously maintaining plenty of low-end detail.

I initially feared that more gentle tracks like Cö Shu Nie’s undress me and Artificial Vampire would be spoiled by overemphasized bass, but thankfully found them to be delightfully bouncy and detailed throughout.

As you start taking it louder, the sound does begin to strain, as the drivers reach their limits. It’s most noticeable above the 70% mark, where the mid-range becomes thin in the mix, and the treble relatively tinny, but this is a reasonable compromise when you’re pushing a speaker of this size this loud.

Importantly, the bass remains strong regardless of your chosen volume level, meaning that this is going to be a crowd-pleaser if you need to crank it up to fill a large space.

Unfortunately, the experience is not completely perfect. One track I tested, the recently released Butterfly by Wednesday Campanella, was noticeably distorted in the lower treble, leading to an unpleasant sibilant sound that grated on the ears.

There is some sibilance present in the original track, but the JBL Boombox 4 definitely brings it to the fore more than any other audio device that I’ve tested – even other Bluetooth speaker models by JBL.

The cause of this is unclear and, hopping online, I soon was able to find a few users complaining of a similar effect in a handful of other songs by a range of artists. To be clear, this is not a widespread issue across my music, and I only noticed it occurring in one song out of the hundreds that I tested, so I’m not docking too many points for it, but it is unfortunate that the listening experience falls just short of flawless across the board.

Hopefully it’s the result of some kind of software issue, and will be remedied in a future update.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Boombox 4 review: design

• Hefty look and feel
• Classic rugged JBL design
• Easy to use controls

It’s impossible to fault the JBL Boombox 4 on an aesthetic front if, like me, you’re already a big fan of the brand’s now iconic rugged designs.

This speaker is a behemoth, with an overall shape reminiscent of a handheld battering ram. It’s clad in a thick fabric that’s remarkably resistant to cuts and grazes, with a massive handle on top. Despite being constructed primarily from plastic, with just a small strip of metal on top, the handle feels very solid with some pleasant textures that make the speaker a little easier to haul around.

Although lighter than the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, which weighed a hefty 14.7lbs / 6.7kg, the Boombox 4 is still quite heavy at 13lbs / 5.89kg, so it’s not one that you’re going to want to carry around too frequently even resting on your shoulder in classic boombox fashion. Still, it’s portable enough to bring to a party or out to the park.

Each end of the Boombox 4 features a massive passive radiator surrounded by inches of thick rubber. I haven’t consciously dropped my review model from a great height, but this seems like it would be enough to provide some decent protection if the worst was to happen. Each radiator features a JBL exclamation mark logo, which illuminates with LED lighting when the speaker’s bass boost modes are enabled.

On the bottom there’s a flat rubber base flanked by two grippy strips. Look closely and you’ll see the screws necessary for removing the battery – a slightly fiddly affair, though this shouldn’t be too surprising given the speaker’s IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, meaning it can take a full dunking in a pool.

On the rear of the speaker is a small rubber flap that hides the charging port to use with the included power adapter and a USB-C port for lossless audio. You can’t charge the speaker via USB-C, though you can use it as a power bank for your other devices if you need to.

In terms of controls, you get the usual JBL affair of play/pause, volume up and down, plus power, Bluetooth pairing, and Auracast. This is in addition to a button with a ‘B’ icon that toggles the bass boost modes. It’s all very intuitive and easy to use, and the most important buttons are illuminated to help you see them at night.

• Design score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)JBL Boombox 4 review: value

• A high-end party speaker
• You’re paying for the design
• Still, good value if you have the budget

There’s no getting around the fact that the JBL Boombox 4 is expensive. At $549.95 / £449.99 / AU$699.95, it’s significantly pricier than more budget-oriented competitors such as the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 and even JBL’s own previous generation model, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi.

Of course, you are paying a premium for the quality of the design and construction, not to mention the excellent software, so those on a strict budget are better saving their cash and settling for something else.

If you are willing to splash out that much, or manage to find the speaker at one of its many attractive discounts, you’re going to be very happy with what you’re getting for your cash.

• Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the JBL Boombox 4?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Everything you could want in a modern party speaker, with smart additions like a removable battery and Auracast.

5/5

Sound quality

Almost perfect party sound with booming bass and excellent clarity. It’s a shame a small number of songs suffer from distortion, though.

4.5/5

Design

Rugged, durable, and good looking. It’s impossible to fault the JBL Boombox 4 here.

5/5

Value

This is a premium speaker for those with a big budget. There are cheaper alternatives out there, but the build quality is worth it.

4/5

Buy it if...

You crave a high-end party speaker
The JBL Boombox 4 is a brilliant party speaker, with booming bass and loud sound that’s going to be more than enough to fill even large outdoor venues.

You want a future proof buy
While the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is often cheaper, the Boombox 4 benefits from forward thinking features like the addition of Auracast and a user replaceable battery.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
This is a premium product aimed at those with a hefty budget. You can still find great sounding party speakers for much less, so if you want to save some cash you could be better served with alternatives like those below.

JBL Boombox 4 review: also consider

JBL Boombox 4

Tribit Stormbox Blast

JBL Xtreme 4

Price

$549.95 / £449.99 / AU$699.95

$199.99 / £162 (about AU$300)

$379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95

Weight

13lbs / 5.89kg

11.6lbs / 5.3kg

4.63 lbs / 2.1kg

Dimensions

20 x 10 x 8inch / 51 x 26 x 21cm

14.4 x 4.1 x 3.1 inches (366 x 104 x 79 mm)

11.69 x 5.87 x 5.55 inches / 297 x 149 x 141mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C (lossless)

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Battery life

Up to 28 hours

30 hours

24 hours

Speaker drivers

2 x 65W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on battery power) / 2 x 60W RMS Woofer, 2 x 40W RMS Tweeter (on AC power)

2x 30W woofer, 2 x 15W tweeters

2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters

Waterproofing

IP68

IPX7

IP67

Tribit Stormbox Blast
The Tribit Stormbox Blast doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as the Boombox 4, but it still delivers meaty, room-filling sound at a fraction of the price. It’s the party speaker to go for if you want the most possible bang for your buck.

Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast review

JBL Xtreme 4
The Boombox 4’s little sibling could also be a good pick if you want something a bit more portable. It offers talented sound, strong battery life, and a useful shoulder strap for hauling it around.

Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review

JBL Boombox 4 review: how I tested

• Tested for over three months
• Used at home and outside
• Tried in group settings

I spent more than three months with the JBL Boombox 4, much to my neighbors' chagrin. During that time I endeavoured to put it through its paces by testing its audio capabilities with a wide range of music. I mostly relied on my personal Apple Music library, but also tried tracks from YouTube Music and Tidal.

I used the speaker at home, outside, and brought it with me to a variety of social events over the Christmas period. I tested its battery life by setting the volume level to roughly a fifth and playing a looping playlist over multiple days, recording the hours taken for it to gradually trickle down to zero.

I compared it against my hands-on use of not only the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, but also other JBL speakers that I own including the JBL Flip 7, JBL Grip, JBL Go 4, and more.

• First reviewed: February 2026
• Read more about how we test

The JBL Boombox 4 is a premium party speaker that delivers killer sound with punchy bass and superb battery life.

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