Short answer: the Soundcore Mini 3 Pro on sound and price, the JBL Go 5 on ruggedness. The Mini 3 Pro ranks #8 of 47 and costs $30, $9.95 less, though its highs are rolled off and its lights sit on top. The Go 5 costs $39.95 and brings IP68 and AirTouch pairing, but is still overpriced and not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
On the JBL Go 5 side: 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.
The case for the Soundcore Mini 3 Pro: Lights on top. The tradeoff: Rolled off highs.
Buy the Soundcore Mini 3 Pro. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Go 5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Mini 3 Pro is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Soundcore Mini 3 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $30 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #8 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| 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) | 0.5 lbs (249 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 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 2.8" x 2.8" x 3.6" (71.1 x 71.1 x 91.4 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 52mm full-range driver |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 6W |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundcore Mini 3 Pro:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Minirig Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
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
Soundcore Mini 3 Pro: $30 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Lights on top. Deeper bass than most other speakers in the size. Measured bass extension of 58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Rolled off highs. Real-world battery life falls well short of the 15-hour claim at higher volumes. Buttons are hard to see (black print on black housing) and it won’t multipoint to two phones at once. Discontinued and no longer sold new. Discontinued.
Full Soundcore Mini 3 Pro review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 6W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.8" x 2.8" x 3.6" (71.1 x 71.1 x 91.4 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (249 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Teufel Boomster Go
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Vifa City
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Marshall Willen II
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Minirig Mini
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- See all 32 comparisons