Short answer: the JBL Pulse 5 for better sound quality, the Bogasing M5 for the lower price. The JBL Pulse 5 ranks #47 of 177 medium speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $224.99. The Bogasing M5 ranks #61, rated 3.5/5, at $52.99, $172 cheaper.
The case for the JBL Pulse 5: A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers. The catch: Bass is limited by its ~58Hz specification.
The Bogasing M5 is the longer-running, lighter option. A compact, backpack friendly speaker with very long battery life and USB-C charging at a budget price. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 1.7 lbs (757 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks. Watch for: Front/rear driver configuration.
Buy the JBL Pulse 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Bogasing M5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers.
A compact, backpack friendly speaker with very long battery life and USB-C charging at a budget price.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 5 | Bogasing M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $224.99 | $52.99 |
| Ranked | #47 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #61 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Stereo | No | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) | 1.7 lbs (757 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) | 6.3” x 3” x 2.8” (160 x 76 x 71 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 30W system |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
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