Short answer: the Go 4, unless AirTouch stereo pairing is specifically what you’re after. The Go 5 ranks #24 of 47 small speakers at $44.95; the Go 4 ranks #25 at $39.95. A five-dollar premium buys one ranking place.
The feature list genuinely grew. IP68 replaces IP67, a 7-band app EQ replaces 5 bands, AirTouch adds real stereo pairing (the Go 4 supports TWS but its spec table lists no true stereo output), and a USB-C wired audio input joins the port for the first time. Bluetooth 6.0 with LC3 support replaces 5.3 with SBC only, though that rarely matters on a speaker this size.
None of it changes the sound. Our own notes on the Go 5 call it “not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights,” and both share the same 3.2 rating and the same complaint: not much bass, and not very clear overall. The reviewer we link for the Go 5 titled the video a “speaker fail.”
What actually moved: battery and weight, in opposite directions. The Go 5 claims 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost, against the Go 4’s 7. It’s also 40 g heavier at 230 g against 190 g, working against the whole point of a clip-on pocket speaker.
Buy the Go 4 for essentially the same sound at $5 less. Buy the Go 5 only if AirTouch stereo pairing, USB-C audio input, or the newer Bluetooth radio are individually worth the premium to you.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $44.95 |
| Ranked | #25 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.71" x 2.98" x 1.66" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 45mm |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 4.8W |
| USB Audio | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 4: $39.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak.
Cons: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume. Midrange can sound grainy and treble a bit sizzly; loses clarity at higher volumes.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 3.71" x 2.98" x 1.66" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Go 4 - first impressions (how to waste your money)
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Select 4 Go Vs JBL Clip 5 And JBL Go 4
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 8, 2026 at 6:24 AM UTC 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.