These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $179; the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ranks #29 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $139.95.
Why pick the Bose SoundLink Plus: A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build. It links with other speakers (Bose Party mode), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. The tradeoff: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the lighter pick. 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 noticeably less than the Bose SoundLink Plus at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The catch: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus ($179) for a large speaker; the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ($139.95) suits a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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 Plus | JBL Charge 5 Wifi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $139.95 |
| Ranked | #25 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (dual microphones) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| 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 top alternatives to JBL Charge 5 Wifi: