Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #30 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $114.95. The LG Xboom Grab ranks #106, rated 3.0/5, at $100.98, $13.97 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Charge 5 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 75Hz for the LG Xboom Grab. The catch: Shouty upper mids.
The LG Xboom Grab is the lighter pick. A rugged waterproof speaker with elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The tradeoff: Bass extension not as deep as the top speakers.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $13.97 saving on the LG Xboom Grab is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A rugged waterproof speaker with elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration.
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 | LG Xboom Grab | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $100.98 |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #106 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 75Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 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 (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.3” x 2.8” x 2.8” (211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x 80x45mm racetrack woofer, 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 30W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (mounting straps) |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
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