Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It ranks #29 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $139.95 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge 2 ranks #93 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge 2’s replacement, the JBL Charge 6, is rated 4.2/5 at $119.95.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. Sounds exactly the same as the non-Wifi version. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Charge 2. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the JBL Charge 2. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Charge 2 lacks. The catch: Shouty upper mids.
The case for the JBL Charge 2: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank. ~10-12 hour battery life. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. The tradeoff: Bass compression at higher volumes.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge 2 is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | JBL Charge 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $149 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #29 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #93 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 3.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 8.5” x 3.4” x 3” (216 x 86 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 45mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 15W RMS |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 5 Wifi: $139.95 Amazon $139.95 eBay
Same family: the JBL Charge 5 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 4/5). See every JBL Charge generation.
Pros: Has Wifi. Sounds exactly the same as the non-Wifi version. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive. No party mode on the wifi version
Full JBL Charge 5 Wifi review and specifications →
| Released | May 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Bogasing M4
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs JBL Charge 5
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Bogasing G4
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Luna
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Luna 2
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Tribit Maxsound Plus
- See all 144 comparisons
JBL Charge 2: $149 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5, released Mar 2025. See every JBL Charge generation.
Pros: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank. ~10-12 hour battery life. Social Mode pairs up to 3 phones; works as a speakerphone.
Cons: Bass compression at higher volumes. Warm sound. slightly rolled off treble. Not as loud as other speakers. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3.4” x 3” (216 x 86 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons