Short answer: the EarFun Uboom L. It ranks #2 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $49.79; the JBL Charge 5 ranks #30, rated 4.0/5, and costs $114.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the JBL Charge 5: A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the EarFun Uboom L cannot. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
The EarFun Uboom L is the better-sounding, louder choice. A great value medium speaker with clear, natural sound, waterproofing, and a Video Mode that keeps audio in sync with video. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 103dB at full volume, against 99dB for the JBL Charge 5. At 1.4 lbs (650 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 lacks. Watch for: It cannot produce real low-bass rumble or fill a large, noisy space, and the top end loses some detail.
Buy the EarFun Uboom L. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge 5 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A great value medium speaker with clear, natural sound, waterproofing, and a Video Mode that keeps audio in sync with video.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | EarFun Uboom L | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $49.79 after coupon UBOOMLWC |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #2 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (firmware >= 1.2.6) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (10 band, firmware >= 1.2.6) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | 400ms normal / 66ms low latency mode |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.4 lbs (650 g) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 3.1” x 8.3” x 2.8” (78 x 210 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 55mm drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 28W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 216ms |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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