Short answer: the JBL Go 5 for waterproofing, the Hopestar H54 for inputs. The Go 5 is IP68 rated, up from the Go 4’s IP67, and adds AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking, but it is still overpriced and not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. The H54 packs IPX7 waterproofing, 5W output, a 5-hour battery, MicroSD, TWS, AUX, Bluetooth 5.0 and a microphone, though it has bright treble, not much bass and harsh mids.
What the Hopestar H54 gets right: IPX7 waterproof, 5W output, 5-hour battery life, MicroSD card support, TWS pairing, AUX input, Bluetooth 5.0, built-in microphone. The tradeoff: Bright treble, not much bass, harsh mids.
On the JBL Go 5 side: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. The catch: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
Buy the JBL Go 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Hopestar H54 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Hopestar H54 | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #38 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 52mm | 45mm |
| Amplifier Power | 5W | 4.8W |
| Dimensions | 5.5" x 4.7" x 2.8" (140 x 120 x 70 mm) | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 5:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
Hopestar H54: $59.99 Hopestar eBay
Pros: IPX7 waterproof, 5W output, 5-hour battery life, MicroSD card support, TWS pairing, AUX input, Bluetooth 5.0, built-in microphone, compact 500g design
Cons: Bright treble, not much bass, harsh mids
Full Hopestar H54 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.5" x 4.7" x 2.8" (140 x 120 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons