Short answer: the Minirig 4. It ranks #7 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $229.95. The JBL Charge 5 ranks #30, rated 4.0/5, at $114.95, $115 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge 5 is the tougher option. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. It is rated IP67 against Splash resistant for the Minirig 4. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
The Minirig 4 is the louder, longer-running option. A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 106dB at full volume, against 99dB for the JBL Charge 5. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge 5. At 1.2 lbs (550 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). Watch for: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
Buy the Minirig 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $115 saving on the JBL Charge 5 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery.
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 | Minirig 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $229.95 |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | 60ms |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.2 lbs (550 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) | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 70mm custom driver |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | Splash resistant |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 50W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
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