Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #26 of 134 medium speakers at $179.95; the Turtlebox Ranger ranks #53 and costs $250, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Charge 5 gets right: Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. Set against that: Not stereo.
On the Turtlebox Ranger side: Much better frequency response than the other Turtlebox speakers. The tradeoff: Bass sounds kind of thuddy and isn’t as deep as higher ranked speakers.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the Turtlebox Ranger if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Turtlebox Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.95 | $250.00 |
| Ranked | #26 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g | 2.4 lbs / 1089 g |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 9.5" x 3.15" x 3.15" (241 x 80 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2" (51mm) woofers |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 40W | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | - |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 5: $179.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. ~20 hour battery life.
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex Review! vs JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5. Travel heaven?? 🤞
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 5 - unboxing & first impressions
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bogasing M4 Review - vs JBL Charge 5 & Motion Plus - a new contender?
- The Tech Files: JBL CHARGE 5 Vs. CHARGE ESSENTIAL 2 #shorts
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei sound joy vs JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 - top mono speaker! 🤓
- New Stuff TV 2: Sony ULT Field 1 vs JBL Flip 6, JBL Charge 5 & Soundcore Motion 300
- Techder Audios: JBL PULSE 5 VS JBL CHARGE 5 “LIGHTS VS BASS?!”
- Storytripper HD: Klipsch Nashville vs JBL Charge 5
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Storytripper HD: KEF MUO vs JBL Charge 5
- KULAS TECH SHOW: JBL Charge 5 vs Tronsmart Mirtune S100 - Sound Comparison💥🔥
- Alan Ross Reviews: UE Megaboom 3 review vs JBL Charge 5 & Motion Boom! how bad can it be??
- New Stuff TV: Sony SRS-XE300 vs JBL Charge 5
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 5 Vs Sony XE300 - How Can You Mess Up This Bad?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- DIGI-EARS: Xdobo X8 Max vs. JBL Charge 5 vs. Anker Soundcore Motion+ vs. Tribit Stormbox Pro Sound Test Battle
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 6
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Pulse 5
- JBL Charge 5 vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Charge 5 vs Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Charge 5 vs Bogasing M4
- JBL Charge 5 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- JBL Charge 5 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- JBL Charge 5 vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- JBL Charge 5 vs Tronsmart Mirtune S100
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Charge 5 vs Xdobo X8 Max
- JBL Charge 5 vs KEF Muo gen2
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Links
Turtlebox Ranger: $250.00 Amazon
Pros: Much better frequency response than the other Turtlebox speakers. Has magnets for attaching it to things. Appears to be quite tough
Cons: Bass sounds kind of thuddy and isn’t as deep as higher ranked speakers. Overpriced. Heavy for the size, likely due to the toughness
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 3.15" x 3.15" (241 x 80 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) woofers |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1089 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Turtlebox Ranger vs B&O Beosound A1
- Turtlebox Ranger vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
- Turtlebox Ranger vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Turtlebox Ranger vs KEF Muo gen2
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- Turtlebox Ranger vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Turtlebox Ranger vs JBL Pulse 5
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Minirig 4
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4
- Turtlebox Ranger vs B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Marshall Emberton II
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Sonos Roam 2
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.