Short answer: the JBL Clip 5 if the extra $37.33 is easy to justify, otherwise the Xiaomi Sound Pocket. The Clip 5 ranks #21 of 54 small portable speakers against the Sound Pocket’s #52.
The Clip 5’s own notes admit it isn’t a big sonic leap. They describe it as generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound, basically about the same as the Clip 4, but with more features layered on top. Those features include the JBL Portable app’s custom EQ, a wider carabiner and thicker back padding than the Clip 4, IP67 rating, and Auracast support for pairing with other JBL speakers.
The Sound Pocket trades a carabiner for portability. Its notes list 5W output, IP67 waterproofing, a 10 hour battery estimate, a compact 0.4 lbs (200 g) body, Bluetooth 5.4 with TWS stereo pairing, a built-in microphone, and USB-C charging. The tradeoffs are light bass, vocals that turn harsh above about 80% volume, a tendency to vibrate and walk on hard surfaces at higher volume when upright, and a slow 3 hour charge time.
Everything else is close: both are IP67 rated and rely on a single full-range driver plus passive radiator, with the Clip 5 outputting 7W against the Sound Pocket’s 5W.
Buy the JBL Clip 5 for the carabiner clip-on form factor, the EQ app, and Auracast pairing with other JBL speakers.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Pocket if the lower price matters more than those extras and you can tolerate harshness at higher volumes.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Clip 5 | Xiaomi Sound Pocket | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.95 | $22.62 |
| Ranked | #21 of 54 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #52 of 54 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 5.3” x 1.8” (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) | 3.6” x 2.9” x 1.7” (90.8 x 74.4 x 42.6 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 7W | 5W |
| Drivers | 1x ~50mm (2”) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | Full-range driver + passive radiator |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) | Yes (lanyard) |
| Battery Capacity | - | 1000mAh |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Clip 5 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Clip 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Clip 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Clip 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Clip 5 vs Minirig Mini
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs JBL Clip 5
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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 Clip 5: $59.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older models: the JBL Clip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5), the JBL Clip 3 (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the JBL Clip (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
Pros: JBL Portable app adds custom EQ. Wider carabiner and thicker back padding than the Clip 4. IP67 rated. Auracast support for pairing multiple JBL speakers.
Cons: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features. Basically about the same as the Clip 4.
Full JBL Clip 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 7W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 5.3” x 1.8” (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~50mm (2”) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Xiaomi Sound Pocket: $22.62 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: A genuinely pocketable 200g speaker with IP67 protection, USB-C charging, speakerphone capability and TWS pairing. Independent listening finds it surprisingly loud and clear for hotel rooms, patios and travel, with acceptable sound at moderate volume.
Cons: Its 5W driver has little real bass, and vocals can become harsh as volume rises beyond roughly 80%. When upright on a hard surface it can vibrate or walk around, and the claimed 10-hour battery life applies only at modest volume; full recharging is slow at around three hours.
Full Xiaomi Sound Pocket review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 1000mAh |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.6” x 2.9” x 1.7” (90.8 x 74.4 x 42.6 mm) |
| Drivers | Full-range driver + passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
- 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.
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- See all 42 comparisons