Short answer: the JBL Grip, if you are buying new. The Xiaomi Mi Portable ranks higher than it (#75 vs #96 of 164 medium speakers, 3.4/5 vs 3.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the JBL Grip is still sold new at $99.95.
Why pick the Xiaomi Mi Portable: Good battery life for a 16W speaker: around 12 hours at moderate volume. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Grip lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Grip. The catch: A bit of a sharp treble.
What the JBL Grip does well: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. The catch: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the JBL Grip if you want one new; the Xiaomi Mi Portable is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Xiaomi Mi Portable | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $55 Discontinued | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #75 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #96 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (373 g) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 2.9” x 2.9” (213 x 74 x 74 mm) | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W | 16W |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (7 band) |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | Yes (strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Xiaomi Mi Portable compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Minirig 4 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- JBL Charge 6 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- JBL Flip 6 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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
Xiaomi Mi Portable: $55 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Good battery life for a 16W speaker: around 12 hours at moderate volume. USB-C charging, stereo pairing support.
Cons: A bit of a sharp treble. Discontinued.
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 2.9” x 2.9” (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (373 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony XB33
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip 5
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Soundcore 3
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip 4
- See all 39 comparisons
JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons