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 Roam 2 ranks #94, rated 3.2/5, and costs $179, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, deeper-bass 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. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam 2. The catch: Shouty upper mids.
The Sonos Roam 2 is the lighter option. A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at 2.2 lbs (1 kg). The catch: Exact same sound quality as the original Sonos Roam.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked 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.
A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #29 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| 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) | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge 5 Wifi: