Short answer: neither is a great sound quality pick, so let price decide. The Go 5 ranks #24 of 47 small portable speakers at $39.95, the Mi Portable Mini ranks #37 at $21.99, $17.96 cheaper, and both sit closer to the bottom of the class than the top.
The Go 5’s review is unusually critical for a JBL. Beyond the IP68 rating and AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking, its cons list a mono downmixing artifact described as audible growling, weak off-axis dispersion, an uneven upper-mid-heavy tonal balance, and a note that it falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. The Mi Portable Mini’s issues are simpler and more expected at its price: not much bass and rolled-off treble, though its pros do include TWS stereo pairing, a bass boost equalizer, and dual drivers with a passive radiator.
The Go 5 still has the more complete feature set. It adds a 7-band app EQ, a USB-C wired audio input, and JBL’s Auracast party mode, none of which the Mi Portable Mini offers. The Mi Portable Mini counters with a lighter 185g body and a slightly longer battery rating at 10 hours against the Go 5’s 8.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if you want app EQ control and stereo pairing and are willing to pay more for features rather than outright sound quality.
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini if you just want the cheapest usable option and don’t mind thin bass and rolled-off treble either way.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $21.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 10 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 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 0.4 lbs (185 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 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 200Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 3.4" x 3.4" x 1.8" (86 x 86 x 45 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 2x drivers (rare-earth magnet, long-fibre diaphragm) + passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 4W |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Battery Capacity | - | 2000mAh |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Go 5 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
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
Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini: $21.99 eBay
Pros: IP67 waterproof, TWS stereo pairing, 10-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, compact 185g design, bass boost equalizer, dual drivers with passive radiator, built-in microphone, USB-C charging, affordable price
Cons: Not much bass, treble rolled off
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 2000mAh |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 3.4" x 1.8" (86 x 86 x 45 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x drivers (rare-earth magnet, long-fibre diaphragm) + passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 200Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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