Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks #12 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $49.99; the JBL Clip 5 ranks #21 and costs $69.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Ultimate Ears Miniroll gets right: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. The catch: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers.
On the JBL Clip 5 side: JBL Portable app adds custom EQ. Set against that: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Miniroll | JBL Clip 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #12 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g | 0.6 lbs / 285 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) | 3.4" x 5.3" x 1.8" (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator | 1x ~50mm (2") full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| Output Power | 3W RMS | 7W |
| Max Volume | 83dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | - | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Willen II vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Marshall Willen II vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- JBL Clip 5 vs JBL Clip
- JBL Clip 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon
Pros: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size.
Cons: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
Full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 83dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 3W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen II
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Klipsch Austin
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- See all 19 comparisons
JBL Clip 5: $69.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: JBL Portable app adds custom EQ. Wider carabiner and thicker back padding than the Clip 4. IP67 rated. Auracast support for pairing multiple JBL speakers.
Cons: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features. Basically about the same as the Clip 4
Full JBL Clip 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 5.3" x 1.8" (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~50mm (2") full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 285 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons