Short answer: it comes down to battery life versus water rating, though neither ranks well in its class. The LG Xboom Go PL5 runs 18 hours and is IPX5 rated at $289, but it has barely any bass. The Beosound Explore is IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook at $294.99, yet it has a huge lack of bass extension and overly hot ringing treble. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 151 medium speakers; for better sound, the Earfun Uboom L ranks #1 at $49.79.
Buy the B&O Beosound Explore. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $5.99 saving on the LG Xboom Go PL5 is not enough to make up the difference.
Battery life favors the B&O Beosound Explore: rated for 27 hours against 15 hours for the LG Xboom Go PL5.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | LG Xboom Go PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.99 | $289.00 |
| Ranked | #121 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) | 1.4 lbs (640 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 20W |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (via app) |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) | - |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How B&O Beosound Explore compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom L vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Minirig 4 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs B&O Beosound Explore
- JBL Charge 6 vs B&O Beosound Explore
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $294.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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LG Xboom Go PL5: $289.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. LED lights sync to music via the LG XBOOM app; Wireless Party Link connects up to 100 speakers. USB-C charging. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Barely any bass. 14kHz peak, bright on top. Soundboost mode makes the top end even harsher.
Full LG Xboom Go PL5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (640 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs LG Xboom XG5
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Doss E-Go II
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Sony SRS-XE200
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