These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Xtreme 3 ranks #18 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $269.95; the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ranks #29 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $139.95.
Why pick the JBL Xtreme 3: A loud, waterproof stereo speaker with deep bass, balanced sound and a power bank for charging devices. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. Watch for: Boosted bass.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the longer-running, lighter choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 15 for the JBL Xtreme 3. At 2.2 lbs (1 kg) it weighs much less than the JBL Xtreme 3 at 4 lbs (1.83 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Xtreme 3 lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 3 at $269.95 for a large speaker, or the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at $139.95 for a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 Xtreme 3 | JBL Charge 5 Wifi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.95 | $139.95 |
| Ranked | #18 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 133ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.83 kg) | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (dual microphones) |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 5.4” x 5.3” (298 x 136 x 134 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 53.5Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music |
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