Is the JBL Go 5 worth buying now that the JBL Go 4 is cheaper? After testing both Bluetooth speakers side by side, there's a clear winner for me

Date:
Sat, 23 May 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Description:
Which little speaker is better value? I used them side-by-side to work out which is better bang for your buck.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Recently, I got my hands on the JBL Go 5 the latest edition of the audio specialists smallest, and most affordable Bluetooth speaker. And to say it impressed me would be an understatement.

With exceptional sound quality in a small package, top-tier durability, and enticing LED lights, it proved that JBL is still king of the mini Bluetooth speaker world. Its also available at a very low price However, with the Go 5 finally on the market, you can now easily swipe the previous-gen JBL Go 4 model with major discounts that could easily tempt you to go for that option instead, saving a bit of cash. Latest Videos From You may like JBL Go 5 review: the best tiny Bluetooth speaker JBL just upgraded two of our top Bluetooth speakers one big, one small JBL Clip 5 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4: two flyweights punch it out in a closely-contested Bluetooth speaker
battle

Given that the Go 4 was already one of the best Bluetooth speakers in the small-size category, I can see a lot of people being torn on which one to
buy. So is the JBL Go 5 worth buying over its predecessor even at a higher price?

After testing both side-by-side, for me the JBL Go 5 is the better buy, even if you have to pay up to 30% more for it because that difference isn't actually a lot of money, but the speaker itself is a big improvement. Let me break it all down for you. Today's best JBL Go 5 and JBL Go 4 deals JBL Go 5 39.98 View Deal See all prices JBL Go 4 39 29 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4 specs at a glance Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

JBL Go 5

JBL Go 4

Price

$54.95 / 39.99 (about AU$75)

$49.95 / 39.99 / AU$59.95

Weight

0.5lbs / 230g

0.4lbs / 190g

Dimensions

4 x 3.1 x 1.7 inches / 101 x 77.4 x 43mm

3.7 x 3.0 x 1.7 inches / 94 x 78 x 42mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0; USB-C (audio & charging)

Bluetooth 5.3; USB-C (charging only)

Battery life

10 hours (with PlayTime Boost)

9 hours (with PlayTime Boost)

Speaker drivers

1x 45mm full-range

1x 45mm full-range

Waterproofing

IP68

IP67 How do the JBL Go 5's features & design differ from the Go 4? The JBL Go 5 introduces accent lights (Image credit: Future) First of all, lets take a look at the key differences between the Go 5 and Go 4.

Both models have a similar, rectangular build and feature the JBL logo at their core. Buttons are layered on the outside edges, enabling you to swiftly turn your speaker on, control playback, and pair via Bluetooth. They also feature a loop for hooking the speaker to something, which are constructed from hardy fabric in both cases. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The differences in terms of build are quite minor, really. The Go 5 is slightly larger, the logo pops a little more, and there are raised 'feet' on the back for when youre laying the speaker flat. It also has IP68 dust and waterproofing, meaning it's fully protected against dust ingress, and can survive a 30 minute dunking under a meter and a half of water.

The Go 4 is IP67-rated, meaning it can only swim under a meter of water safely, but that level of protection will be more than enough for most. The JBL Go 4 is super-similar to the Go 5 overall (Image credit: Future) The obvious and major difference between the Go 4 and Go 5 is the latters inclusion of lighting. You can select from a number of lighting effects in
the JBL Portable app, and enjoy ambient effects while listening to your
tunes. Its a nice touch, but if youd rather turn it off to conserve battery life, you can do so. What to read next The best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, all tested by our experts Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: speaker showdown The best waterproof speakers, all tested by our outdoor speaker experts

Speaking of battery life, you get a bit more out of the Go 5 than its predecessor. JBLs new model supplies eight hours of playtime, with an additional two available using PlayTime Boost .

The Go 4 gets close, with seven hours and up to nine with playtime boost on so you should get enough charge to keep the tunes going for a cookout.

Otherwise, things are fairly similar across the two models. Youll get multi-point connectivity, EQ tweaking in the JBL Portable app, fast-pairing, and Auracast connectivity for multi-speaker pairing.

Usefully, though, the Go 5 supports AirTouch, which enables you to instantly stereo pair to another Go 5 unit just by tapping them together. Sound
quality: more of a difference than you may expect The JBL Go 5 packs a lot more depth into its soundstage (Image credit: Future) So, other than the Go
5s lighting, a lot of the feature and design differences are the sort of incremental things youd expect from a next-gen refresh. However, when it
comes to sound quality, the upgrade is a lot more substantial than you may expect.

Ive appreciated the Go 4s sound since I first heard it a couple of years back
it was pretty clear and punchy given the models limited confines. But the Go 5 has redefined what is possible for a small-sized speaker.

The Go 5 has a much more open, detailed quality to its audio playback the Go 4 sounded compressed and restricted in comparison when I used both side by side.

In tracks such as Marco Castellos Editto Dal Sottoscoglio , I was treated to
a much more full-sounding presentation on JBLs newer release the definition of dreamy vocals, the sharp, expressive hit of hi-hats, and the tonality of gliding guitars just came through with so much more life and color. The Go 4 is good, but I really miss that extra breadth of the sound (Image credit: Future) Even though bass is inherently limited on the Go 5, its also a bit cleaner sounding against the relatively punchy but slightly less powerful Go 4.

Youll also be able to get more powerful sound from the Go 5, as its output power has increased to 4.8W from 4.2W, and the speaker does reach pretty impressive volumes both models will succumb to compression at peak loudness, though.

Unlike the Go 4, you can also make use of wired audio on the JBL Go 5, with USB-C audio passthrough. This unlocks lossless playback, resulting in even more agile, responsive bass, surprisingly detailed mids, and controlled treble. Most will probably stick with Bluetooth, but this sort of feature is great to see regardless. Verdict: heres how Id spend my money Yeah, I'd pick the Go 5 (Image credit: Future) So, in the end which speaker do I think is worth buying? Considering that the JBL Go 5 has a modest list price of $54.95 / 39.99 (about AU$75), representing a very small increase over its
predecessor in real terms, Id say theres no contest.

With appealing, customizable lighting, incremental feature enhancements, and considerably better sound, the JBL Go 5 is almost like a blueprint on how to do an upgrade right.

Sure, the Go 4 is often on sale now, and Ive seen it drop below $40 / 30 / AU$50 regularly, so saving the extra $15 / 10 will be tempting. And it still offers solid sound quality, a durable design, and phenomenal portability.

But the audio improvement alone makes the Go 5 worth choosing over its ancestor. For me, its the best little Bluetooth speaker that money can buy. Today's best JBL Go 5 and JBL Go 4 deals JBL Go 5 39.98 View Deal See all prices JBL Go 4 39 29 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and
add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best Bluetooth speakers 1. Best overall: JBL Flip 7 2. Best cheap: JBL Clip 5 3. Best high-end option: Bang & Olufsen A1 3rd
Gen 4. Best party speaker: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-bluetooth-speakers/jbl-go-5-vs-jbl-go -4


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