Short answer: the JBL Go 5. It ranks #24 of 46 small speakers at $44.95; the Hopestar H54 ranks #37 and costs $59.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 Hopestar H54 if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the JBL Go 5 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Hopestar H54 | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $44.95 |
| Ranked | #37 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 46 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) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 5W | 4.8W |
| Dimensions | 14cm x 12cm x 7cm | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 500 g | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
| USB Audio | - | Yes |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
The Two Speakers In Full
Hopestar H54: $59.99 Hopestar
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
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 14cm x 12cm x 7cm |
| Drivers | 52mm |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 500 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
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.
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.