Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It ranks #29 of 164 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $250 and is still sold new; the Xiaomi Mi Portable ranks #75 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
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 13 for the Xiaomi Mi Portable. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Xiaomi Mi Portable lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
The Xiaomi Mi Portable is the lighter pick. Good battery life for a 16W speaker: around 12 hours at moderate volume. At 0.8 lbs (373 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at 2.2 lbs (1 kg). 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: A bit of a sharp treble.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Xiaomi Mi Portable is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | Xiaomi Mi Portable | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $55 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #29 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 0.8 lbs (373 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 8.4” x 2.9” x 2.9” (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 16W |
| 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 4, 2026 at 9:58 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: $250 Amazon eBay
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 →
| 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 |
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Xiaomi Mi Portable: $55 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Good battery life for a 16W speaker: around 12 hours at moderate volume. USB-C charging, stereo pairing support.
Cons: A bit of a sharp treble. Discontinued.
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 2.9” x 2.9” (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (373 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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