Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #28 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $139.95. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 ranks #95, rated 2.9/5, at $59.99, $79.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is the lighter pick. At 0.9 lbs (420 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 5 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The catch: Bass isn’t as deep as the top-ranked speakers and is a little thuddy.
The JBL Charge 5 is the better-sounding, longer-running option. Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 14 for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 lacks. It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 cannot. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the JBL Charge 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $79.96 saving on the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 | JBL Charge 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $139.95 |
| Ranked | #95 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 125ms |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4: $59.99 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5), the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5) and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: Small size.
Cons: Bass isn’t as deep as the top-ranked speakers and is a little thuddy. Not much improvement over the previous Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 besides the USB-C charging port.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
- Links
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JBL Charge 5: $139.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. ~20 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive.
Full JBL Charge 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
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