Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It ranks #29 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $139.95; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #142, rated 2.5/5, and costs $294.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the B&O Beosound Explore. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the B&O Beosound Explore lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the longer-running, lighter choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery. It is rated for 27 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. At 1.4 lbs (631 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at 2.2 lbs (1 kg). It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. Watch for: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #29 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 60W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | No |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (carabiner) |
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