Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll for the higher ranking, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Ultimate Ears Miniroll ranks #12 of 46 small speakers at $49.99. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $5.04 cheaper.
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 Ultimate Ears Miniroll: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. The tradeoff: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Ultimate Ears Miniroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 46 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Only with other Miniroll) |
| 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 | 0.6 lbs / 279 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) | 4.83" x 4.13" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 2.3 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 3W RMS |
| Max Volume | - | 83dB |
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 JBL Clip 5
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- Links
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon
Pros: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size.
Cons: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Dimensions | 4.83" x 4.13" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 83dB |
| Output Power | 3W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Only with other Miniroll) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 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.