These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $399; the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ranks #29 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $139.95.
What the Bose SoundLink Max does well: A rugged waterproof speaker with deep bass, a very long real world battery and a port that charges your phone. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. Watch for: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the lighter option. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. At 2.2 lbs (1 kg) it weighs much less than the Bose SoundLink Max at 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Max lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Max lacks. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max at $399 if you want a large speaker. Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at $139.95 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Max | JBL Charge 5 Wifi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $139.95 |
| Ranked | #17 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (dual microphones) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose SoundLink Max: