Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. These rank #28 and #46 out of 173 portable speakers, with the Go 5 at $34.95 and the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor at $49.99.
The Go 5 has more features on paper but weaker cons to show for it. Its pros list an IP68 rating up from the Go 4’s IP67, AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking, a 7-band app EQ up from the Go 4’s 5-band, and a USB-C wired audio input. But its cons are extensive: it’s still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lighting, weak off-axis dispersion, an uneven upper-mid-heavy tonal balance, and it doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher. Its cons specifically call out that it falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor has no app and no EQ at all, and its cons note its 60Hz to 20kHz manufacturer-specified range points to limited deep-bass reach for its cabinet size. It’s also mono rather than stereo. Even so, its pros describe a practical 20W woofer plus 10W tweeter and passive radiator layout backed by a 12 hour battery and IP67 rating, and it lands as the better sounding option overall.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor for better overall sound quality, even without an app or EQ.
Buy the Go 5 only if you specifically want AirTouch stereo pairing or the app EQ, and can live with its weaker tonal balance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A pocket sized fully waterproof speaker with tap to pair stereo linking, app EQ, and USB-C audio input.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked October 23, 2026 at 8:27 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $34.95 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #28 of 61 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 173 in Medium 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 (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 1.3 lbs (597 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 30W |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
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