Short answer: the Select 4 Go, and it isn’t close on value. It ranks #23 of 47 small speakers at $22.99; the Go 5 ranks #24 at $39.95. Less than half the price for a higher placement.
What the JBL badge buys you. The Go 5 has a built-in microphone for calls, where the Select 4 Go has none. It also adds Auracast party mode, a slightly higher IP68 rating against IP67, and a newer Bluetooth 6.0 radio. If any of those specifically matter to you, they’re real.
What the Soundcore wins on is bigger. Battery life is the standout: 20 hours against the Go 5’s 8 to 10. Our own notes on the Select 4 Go call it “quite inexpensive for what you get,” and at under half the JBL’s price with a much longer-lasting battery, that holds up.
Neither is a bass speaker. Both share the recurring small-class complaint of limited low end, and the Select 4 Go adds some sibilance on transients at higher volume. Neither is stereo out of the box; both need a second unit paired for that.
Buy the Select 4 Go if price and battery life matter more than a microphone. Buy the Go 5 only if you specifically need speakerphone calls, Auracast, or the fully tested IP68 rating.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Soundcore Select 4 Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $22.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #23 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 0.6 lbs (265 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 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 1.75" (44mm) full range |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 5W |
| Lights | Yes | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Soundcore Select 4 Go:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
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 Select 4 Go: $22.99 Amazon Aliexpress B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Quite inexpensive for what you get
Cons: Not as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. Doesn’t get very loud before sound quality drops; some sibilance on snare/stick transients. No built-in mic; playback is mono unless you buy a second unit.
Full Soundcore Select 4 Go review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) full range |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (265 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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