Short answer: the Minirig Mini for better sound quality, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Minirig Mini ranks #4 of 47 small speakers at $100. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $55.05 cheaper.
The case for the JBL Go 5: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. The catch: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
On the Minirig Mini side: Very neutral. Much deeper bass than most other speakers in the size. Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Set against that: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Minirig Mini if sound quality matters more than the price.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Go 5 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Minirig Mini at Splash resistant (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Minirig Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | Splash resistant |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (cable) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.7 lbs / 314 g |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | aptX, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 3.3" x 2.1" (84 x 53 mm) (depth not listed) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 52mm custom neodymium |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 15W RMS |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 92dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Go 4 vs Vifa City
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
Prices on this page were last checked August 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM 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: $44.95 Amazon eBay
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 →
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Minirig Mini: $100 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Very neutral. Much deeper bass than most other speakers in the size. Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer.
Cons: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy. Wireless TWS pairing is buggy. Discontinued.
Full Minirig Mini review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.3" x 2.1" (84 x 53 mm) (depth not listed) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 52mm custom neodymium |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 15W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (cable) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 314 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig Mini v Tribit Stormbox Micro or Bose Soundlink Micro More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig Mini mk2 - best small speaker?
- Speakertech: Anker soundcore Boost (Upgraded) vs minirig mini in stereo /2.0 (and changing the equalizer)
- Reddit Search for Minirig Mini Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons