Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll, unless price is the deciding factor. The Go 5 ranks #24 of 47 small speakers at $39.95; the Miniroll ranks #12 at $49.99, $10.04 more.
The gap in reported issues is lopsided. The Miniroll’s only listed drawback is bass that isn’t quite as deep as the best-rated speakers in its size, against good clarity and detail in the mids and highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. The Go 5, by contrast, carries a long list: reviewers describe it as still lacking bass and not very clear overall, with weak off-axis dispersion, an uneven upper-mid-heavy balance, and a mono downmixing artifact that produces an audible growling sound, the same issue noted on the larger JBL Charge 6.
What the Go 5 adds: IP68 water resistance versus the Miniroll’s IP67, stereo pairing through AirTouch tap-to-pair, and a 7-band app EQ, none of which the Miniroll offers.
What the Miniroll adds: longer rated battery life at 12 hours against the Go 5’s 8 (10 with Playtime Boost), and PartyUp/Auracast pairing limited to other Miniroll units.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll if sound quality is worth the extra $10.04 to you. It has far fewer reported flaws.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price is the priority and stereo pairing or an EQ app matters more than raw clarity.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Ultimate Ears Miniroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 47 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 (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| 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 (279 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 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 4.8" x 4.1" 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 |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 3W RMS |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 83dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM 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
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Ultimate Ears Miniroll uses 45.6mm active with passive radiator. Its 279 g, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, up to 83dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 3W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 83dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (279 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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