These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Xtreme 5 ranks #2 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $399.95; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $399.
The JBL Xtreme 5 is the longer-running, tougher pick. A large waterproof speaker with deep bass, wide, clean sound at volume and a removable 28 hour battery. It is rated for 28 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It is rated IP68 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The catch: High priced.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the lighter pick. A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. At 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) it weighs much less than the JBL Xtreme 5 at 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg). The catch: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5 at $399.95 if you want a large speaker. Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at $399 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 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 Xtreme 5 | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Music) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 1 x 90W RMS Woofer + 2 x 20W RMS Tweeter (AC power mode) 1 x 60W RMS Woofer + 2 x 15W RMS Tweeter (Battery mode) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
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