Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor unless the light show sells you. The JBL Pulse 5’s lights are the draw, though they are not synced to the music like the Pulse 2, and it gives up some bass depth while its plastic scratches easily. The Xiaomi is the cheaper pick at $54.99 against $219.99, with boosted bass that gets uncontrolled at high levels.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $165 less than the JBL Pulse 5.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | JBL Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $54.99 | $219.99 |
| Ranked | #45 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (597 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Xiaomi Sound Outdoor compares with other leading options:
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Minirig 4
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- JBL Charge 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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 Sound Outdoor: $54.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Xiaomi Sound Outdoor uses 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators. Its 597 g, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. A decent sounding speaker for its size.
Cons: Its 60Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Boosted bass that gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
Full Xiaomi Sound Outdoor review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Drivers | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (597 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Soundcore Motion 100
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JBL Pulse 5: $219.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Pulse 6. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we can’t confirm that yet.
Pros: JBL Pulse 5 uses 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter. Its 1500 g, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. A cool light show, though it is not synced to the music like the Pulse 2. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its ~58Hz specification. Bass does not reach as deep as others, and the plastic scratches easily.
Full JBL Pulse 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Techder Audios: JBL PULSE 5 VS JBL CHARGE 5 "LIGHTS VS BASS?!" More from techderaudios →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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