Short answer: the JBL Pulse 5. It ranks #47 of 172 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $189. The Beats Pill 2024 ranks #76, rated 3.3/5, at $129.95, $59.05 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Beats Pill 2024 is the longer-running, lighter pick. A 1.5 lbs (680 g) IP67 portable speaker with 24-hour battery life that doubles as a USB-C power bank. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks. The tradeoff: Boosted upper bass, somewhat thuddy.
The JBL Pulse 5 is the better-sounding choice. A 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) IP67 speaker with a built-in light show, a rated 12-hour battery and PartyBoost linking with up to 100 speakers. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Beats Pill 2024 lacks. The catch: Bass does not reach as deep as others, and the plastic scratches easily.
Buy the JBL Pulse 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $59.05 with the Beats Pill 2024 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A 680 g IP67 portable speaker with 24-hour battery life that doubles as a USB-C power bank.
Amazon $129.95 eBay
A 1.5 kg IP67 speaker with a built-in light show, a rated 12-hour battery and PartyBoost linking with up to 100 speakers.
Amazon $189.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Beats Pill 2024 | JBL Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | $189.00 |
| Ranked | #76 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~56Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 2.8” x 2.8” (219 x 71 x 70 mm) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x drivers with dual passive radiators | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Frequency Response | - | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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