Short answer: the Soundcore Mini 3. It ranks #9 of 46 small speakers at $41; the JBL Go 5 ranks #24 and costs $44.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Go 5 gets right: 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.
On the Soundcore Mini 3 side: Deeper bass than most other speakers in the size. The tradeoff: Rolled off highs.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Soundcore Mini 3 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Soundcore Mini 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $41 |
| Ranked | #24 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #9 of 46 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 |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.5 lbs / 249 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| USB Audio | 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 | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 2.8" x 2.8" x 3.3" |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3-4 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 52mm full-range driver |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 6W |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 160ms |
| Max Volume | - | 87dB |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
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.
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- JBL Go 5 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
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- JBL Go 5 vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Dewalt Wearable Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Go 5 vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Go 5 vs Noxgear 39g
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Hopestar H54
- JBL Go 5 vs JBL Clip 4
- JBL Go 5 vs JBL Clip 5
- JBL Go 5 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Links
Soundcore Mini 3: $41 Amazon
Pros: Deeper bass than most other speakers in the size.
Cons: Rolled off highs
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3-4 hours |
| Dimensions | 2.8" x 2.8" x 3.3" |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Output Power | 6W |
| 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 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.