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 Sonos Play ranks #56, rated 3.5/5, and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. At 2.2 lbs (1 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
The case for the Sonos Play: A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. The catch: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Play and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it 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 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #29 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| 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) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| 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 | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
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