This $45 JBL Speaker Is Compact Enough to Fit in Your Bag and Durable Enough for the Beach.
On Amazon, the JBL Go 5 speaker is selling for $44.95 instead of $54.95, and according to price tracking data, this is the lowest price yet. At about four inches wide and weighing just over half a pound, it’s compact enough to slip into a backpack, attach to a bag, or keep on a desk without taking up much space. Its improved IP68 rating also makes it a better travel companion than the Go 4 , especially for beach vacations, hiking, or anywhere dust and water are likely to get in the way.
Battery life has also improved slightly: according to JBL, the Go 5 offers up to eight hours of playback, or about 10 hours with Playtime Boost enabled. This should be enough for a full day, but the speaker isn’t designed for 24/7 listening. The same goes for volume. For such a small device, it’s loud enough, but it’s better suited for a picnic table, a bedroom, or a few people sitting close together than a backyard party. The front-facing speaker also makes placement more important, as the sound is noticeably louder when sitting in front of the speaker than when sitting to the side.
However, the Go 5 adds several conveniences that make it easier to use: audio playback is now possible via USB-C, Bluetooth 6.0 brings support for the LC3 codec, and AirTouch lets you pair two Go 5 speakers for stereo sound simply by bringing them close together. The accompanying JBL app also offers more options for adjusting the equalizer. None of these improvements dramatically improve the sound quality compared to the Go 4 , so owners of the older model have little reason to rush to upgrade. However, at $45, the Go 5 is a better buy for those who want a compact speaker with greater durability, slightly longer battery life, and a few useful extra features without upgrading to a larger model.