Short answer: the JBL Pulse 5 on measured sound quality, the Soundcore 2 on price. The JBL Pulse 5 ranks #42 of 136 medium speakers at $199.12. The Soundcore 2 ranks #81 at $29.98, $169.14 cheaper.
What the JBL Pulse 5 offers: Cool light show, although not synced to the music like the Pulse 2. Watch for: Not quite as deep bass as others. Plastic scratches easily.
What the Soundcore 2 offers: 24+ hour battery life from a 5200mAh cell. Very light (0.8 lb) and compact. IPX7 rated with a soft, grippy silicone coating. Watch for: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others
Buy the JBL Pulse 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Battery life favors the Soundcore 2: rated for 24 hours against 12 hours for the JBL Pulse 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 5 | Soundcore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.12 | $29.98 |
| Ranked | #42 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #81 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1500 g | 0.7 lbs / 318 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 4.2" x 8.4" x 5.2" (107 x 214 x 131 mm) | 6.6" x 1.9" x 2.2" (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 40W | 12W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Soundcore Glow vs JBL Charge 2
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- JBL Pulse 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- Soundcore 2 vs Sony SRS-XB30
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Pulse 5: $199.12 Amazon eBay
Pros: Cool light show, although not synced to the music like the Pulse 2.
Cons: Not quite as deep bass as others. Plastic scratches easily.
Full JBL Pulse 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.2" x 8.4" x 5.2" (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1500 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Techder Audios: JBL PULSE 5 VS JBL CHARGE 5 “LIGHTS VS BASS?!” More from techderaudios →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Reddit Search for JBL Pulse 5 Review
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Soundcore 2: $29.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: 24+ hour battery life from a 5200mAh cell. Very light (0.8 lb) and compact. IPX7 rated with a soft, grippy silicone coating.
Cons: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others
Full Soundcore 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.6" x 1.9" x 2.2" (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 12W |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 318 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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