Short answer: the JBL Go 5, easily. It ranks #24 of 47 at $39.95, $30 less than the Noxgear 39g at #46. The 39g’s magnetic clip attaches through a shirt or jacket without pins, but our notes say it sounds worse than a clock radio with the worst bass of any speaker.
The case for the JBL Go 5: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. Set against that: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
What the Noxgear 39g gets right: Magnetic clip attaches through a shirt/jacket without pins. The catch: It sounds worse than a clock radio with the worst bass of any speaker.
Buy the JBL Go 5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Noxgear 39g and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
The Noxgear 39g is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 47 small speakers; there are better options higher up.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Noxgear 39g is rated for 15 hours, the JBL Go 5 only 8 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Noxgear 39g | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 15 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 | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 0.1 lbs (39 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | 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) | 2.6" x 1.6" x 0.9" (66 x 41 x 23 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | N52 neodymium |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~300Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Go 5:
- 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 September 22, 2026 at 5:11 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: $39.95 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 →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| 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
Noxgear 39g: $69.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Magnetic clip attaches through a shirt/jacket without pins. Blue safety light for visibility when running in low light. It’s only 39g of weight. ~15 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of ~300Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It sounds worse than a clock radio with the worst bass of any speaker. It’s a huge compromise in sound for the small weight.
Full Noxgear 39g review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~300Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 1.6" x 0.9" (66 x 41 x 23 mm) |
| Drivers | N52 neodymium |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.1 lbs (39 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons