Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #30 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $114.95. The Skullcandy Terrain ranks #172, rated 2.1/5, at $49.93, $65.02 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge 5 is the better-sounding, longer-running pick. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 14 for the Skullcandy Terrain. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Skullcandy Terrain lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Skullcandy Terrain lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
The Skullcandy Terrain is the lighter choice. A waterproof speaker with a wrist wrap for carrying and pairing with other Skullcandy speakers. At 1 lbs (458 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The catch: No bass, very rolled off treble.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $65.02 saving on the Skullcandy Terrain is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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 | Skullcandy Terrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $49.93 |
| Ranked | #30 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #172 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 90dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1 lbs (458 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) | 6.3” x 3.1” x 3.1” (160 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 48mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 2 x 6W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (wrist strap) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge 5: reviews by Oluv, Alan Ross and Mateusz Cholewa.
- Skullcandy Terrain: reviews by GYMCADDY, FishBee Product and Flossy Carter.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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