Short answer: the JBL Go 4. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#30 and #29 of 62 small speakers), and the JBL Go 4 costs $49.95 against $54.95 for the JBL Go 5, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
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 0.1 lbs (40 g) heavier at 0.5 lbs (230 g) against 0.4 lbs (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.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A pocket sized waterproof mini speaker with a loop for hanging and app EQ.
A pocket sized fully waterproof speaker with tap to pair stereo linking, app EQ, and USB-C audio input.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $54.95 |
| Ranked | #30 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 62 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 | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 3.7” x 3” x 1.7” (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 45mm |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 4.8W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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