Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $399; the JBL Clip 5 ranks #22 of 62 small speakers by sound quality at $59.95.
Why pick the Bose Portable Smart Speaker: A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Clip 5 lacks. Watch for: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
The JBL Clip 5 is the lighter, tougher option. A waterproof clip on speaker with a wide carabiner, a long battery, app EQ, and Auracast linking to other speakers. At 0.6 lbs (285 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Watch for: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at $399 for a medium speaker, or the JBL Clip 5 at $59.95 for a small speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | JBL Clip 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $59.95 |
| Ranked | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #22 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| TWS | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 3.4” x 5.3” x 1.8” (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | 1x ~50mm (2”) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 7W |
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