Short answer: the Soundcore Boom Go 3i for better sound quality, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Soundcore Boom Go 3i ranks #2 of 47 small speakers at $79.99. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $35.04 cheaper.
What the JBL Go 5 offers: 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.
The case for the Soundcore Boom Go 3i: IP68 rated (full submersion + dustproof). ~24 hour battery life. RGB light strip syncs to the music. Watch for: Sounds a bit piercing and metallic. Bass knocks a little bit. Peak at 10khz.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Soundcore Boom Go 3i if sound quality matters more than the price.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Boom Go 3i is rated for 24 hours versus 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Soundcore Boom Go 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #2 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| 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 | 0.8 lbs / 380 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 | 6.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 4" x 4.2" x 1.8" (102.1 x 105.9 x 45.5 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 25mm tweeter + 42mm woofer + passive radiators |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 15W |
| Max Volume | - | 92dB |
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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
Soundcore Boom Go 3i: $79.99 Amazon Aliexpress eBay
Pros: IP68 rated (full submersion + dustproof). ~24 hour battery life. RGB light strip syncs to the music. USB-C port doubles as a power bank for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit piercing and metallic. Bass knocks a little bit. Peak at 10khz
Setup: Try out Oluv’s EQ which slightly improves the sound
Full Soundcore Boom Go 3i review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 4.2" x 1.8" (102.1 x 105.9 x 45.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 42mm woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 15W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 380 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom Go 3i - first look More from Oluv’Sone →
- Techder Audios: Soundcore Boom Go 3i - Soundtest HOW GOOD IS 15W? WITH BASS UP 2.0!? More from techderaudios →
- Storytripper HD: Bose Micro 2 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Micro 2 More from storytripperhd →
- Gi Rides: Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 Binaural Audio
- TecH Moe: Soundcore Boom Go 3i: The Mini Speaker to Buy!
- Reddit Search for Soundcore Boom Go 3i Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Minirig Mini 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Minirig Mini
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Teufel Boomster Go
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Mini 3
- See all 23 comparisons