Short answer: the JBL Go 5 on features, the Dayton Audio Boost Mini on price. The Boost Mini costs $19.98, $19.97 less and ranks #35 of 54, and our notes call it quite light for the performance, but it has not much bass with slightly boosted mids and rolled-off highs. The Go 5 ranks #27 and brings IP68 and AirTouch stereo pairing, though it is still overpriced and not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Dayton Audio Boost Mini if the price matters more than sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Dayton Audio Boost Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $19.98 |
| Ranked | #27 of 54 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #35 of 54 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 0.4 lbs (185 g) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.8” (99.8 x 99.8 x 45 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 1.75” (44mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | Specs not clearly published |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 95Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Go 5 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
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 Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
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. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dayton Audio Boost Mini: $19.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Quite light for the performance. Measured bass extension of 95Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much bass, mids slightly boosted, highs a little rolled off. Same hardware as the Boat Stone 190/193 and Monster Bluetooth Speaker
Full Dayton Audio Boost Mini review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | Specs not clearly published |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.8” (99.8 x 99.8 x 45 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75” (44mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 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.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Onn Small Rugged Speaker
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Tribit PocketGo
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Go 3
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Clip
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Clip 3
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Go 4
- See all 19 comparisons