Short answer: the Charge 5, unless the light show is specifically what you’re buying. These rank #30 and #47 out of 178 medium speakers, at $114.95 and $224.99. The Pulse costs more and ranks lower.
The Pulse 5 exists for one reason, and it isn’t sound. Its own listed advantage is a cool light show, though our notes add that it isn’t synced to the music the way the older Pulse 2’s was, which undercuts the one thing that would justify the premium. Its plastic shell also scratches easily.
The Charge 5 isn’t a great value pick either, to be clear. Our own notes call it overly expensive for what it delivers, with a warm, boosted-bass tuning, shouty upper mids, and no stereo. It still beats the Pulse 5 on every measured axis: it reaches deeper bass, and it does something genuinely useful the Pulse doesn’t: it doubles as a USB-A power bank for charging your phone.
Neither is a top pick in this size class. Both sit in the bottom half of a 133-speaker ranking. If sound is the actual priority rather than a light show or a specific JBL preference, the medium size class has considerably better options for similar money. See the portable buyer’s guide.
Buy the Charge 5 for better sound and the power-bank function. Buy the Pulse 5 only if the light show itself is the feature you’re buying, understanding it isn’t music-synced.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Charge 5 is rated for 20 hours, the JBL Pulse 5 only 12 hours.
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 waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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 | JBL Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $224.99 |
| Ranked | #30 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 40W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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