Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It ranks #29 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $139.95. The Skullcandy Terrain XT ranks #173, rated 2.1/5, at $59.99, $79.96 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 14 for the Skullcandy Terrain XT. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Skullcandy Terrain XT lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Skullcandy Terrain XT lacks. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
The Skullcandy Terrain XT is the lighter option. A waterproof speaker with a wrist wrap for carrying and pairing with other Skullcandy speakers. At 1.6 lbs (720 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at 2.2 lbs (1 kg). It links with other speakers (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. The catch: Shares the Terrain line’s tuning: no bass, very rolled off treble, and distortion in the treble.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $79.96 saving on the Skullcandy Terrain XT is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | Skullcandy Terrain XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $59.99 |
| Ranked | #29 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #173 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 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 1.6 lbs (720 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 3.1” x 3.1” x 6.3” (79 x 79 x 160 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 |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | No |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | 90dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (wrist strap) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi: reviews by GYMCADDY.
- Skullcandy Terrain XT: reviews by 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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