The JBL Go 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but packs the same big, bold JBL sound. With its 45mm driver producing 4.8W, the battery lasts up to eight hours, plus an additional two hours using Playtime Boost, and it’s rated IP68, making it completely waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof. Its new ambient edge lighting provides a subtle glow, and a built-in loop allows you to attach it to your bag or backpack.
A palm-sized waterproof Bluetooth speaker with edge lighting
This speaker is made to travel with you. Weighing around 230 grams, it fits easily into your pocket, a beach bag, or a backpack side pocket. Using the built-in loop, you can also hang it from a hook or a strap. It’s perfect for picnics, showers, and desk work.
The vocals are clear, and the bass has more “oomph” than expected from such a small speaker, thanks to the single 45mm driver putting out 4.8W. The JBL Portable app includes a 7-band EQ, allowing you to adjust the tone to suit whatever you’re listening to.
With an IP68 rating, the speaker survives full submersion and keeps dust and sand out. It’s also designed to be drop-proof, so you don’t have to worry about taking it to the pool, the beach, or a campsite, whether it rains, someone splashes it, or it falls off your picnic table. Battery life lasts up to eight hours after charging, and the app’s Playtime Boost feature adds another two hours by slightly reducing the bass. One charge can last all day long, from morning until evening.
Pairing speakers is simple. You can link two JBL Go 5 speakers together via AirTouch to create true left and right stereo sound instantly. Auracast technology also lets you link the Go 5 to multiple compatible JBL speakers for larger, fuller, room-filling audio.
Auracast lets you easily scale your setup. You could have just one Go 5 on your desk now and add another two or three much larger JBL Auracast speakers when you want to host a backyard party. When connected, they play the exact same audio content. This flexibility lets you keep the small speaker you bought today in your lineup instead of storing it.
Bluetooth 6.0 with LC3 support provides efficient and reliable connectivity, and firmware updates in the JBL Portable app add enhancements and capabilities over time. You can also control any linked Auracast-compatible speakers from the same app.
The speaker’s USB-C connector serves a dual purpose. The same charging cable you use to charge your phone also recharges the Go 5, and when you connect a compatible smartphone or laptop via USB-C, you receive full lossless audio with all of the detail that gets lost in Bluetooth connections. You can select from various light theme options in the app to customize how the ambient edge lighting appears. It also includes visual indicators for power, pairing, and low battery. The JBL Go 5 also supports multipoint Bluetooth, enabling simultaneous connections with two devices.
