Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Micro. It ranks #5 of 46 small speakers at $40; 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. The tradeoff: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
On the Tribit Stormbox Micro side: Quite neutral. The catch: Gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Tribit Stormbox Micro if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Tribit Stormbox Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $40 |
| Ranked | #24 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.7 lbs / 295 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| USB Audio | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.98" x 3.03" x 1.69" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 48mm NdFeB |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 13W |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 180ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
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
- JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4
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- JBL Go 5 vs JBL Clip 5
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- Links
Tribit Stormbox Micro: $40 Amazon
Pros: Quite neutral. Slight hollowness in the mids. Built in strap is super useful for attaching it to things. Highly recommend spending the extra $10 for the Micro 2 which goes louder and deeper. To have it aimed directly at you unclip the strap and the speaker will sit upright with a slight lean back.
Cons: Gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume; boosted bass distorts when pushed loud. Down-firing passive radiator needs a flat surface underneath or the bass gets muffled.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.4" |
| Drivers | 48mm NdFeB |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Output Power | 13W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 295 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 ultimate review 🤭 vs Micro 1 - small and mighty!
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- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker?
- NJ Studio Channel: Tribit stormbox micro vs 1More s1001bt Bass Test!!🔥
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- 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.