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Head-to-head · Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100

JBL Clip 5 vs Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

JBL Clip 5 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.0). JBL Clip 5 is best for: Hikers, cyclists and commuters who want the easiest speaker to clip onto a bag or belt for personal, on-the-go listening. Read the strengths below before deciding.

JBL Clip 5
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100
JBL Clip 5
2 sources$59.95as of Oct 11

The JBL Clip 5 is the best ultra-portable clip-on speaker under $100, with a built-in carabiner that makes it the easiest speaker here to take anywhere. It adds a customizable 5-band EQ, IP67 durability, Bluetooth 5.3 and around 12 hours of battery, all in a package that weighs almost nothing. It won't fill a room, but as a personal, attach-to-anything speaker it's the class leader.

Strengths
  • — Genuinely useful built-in carabiner clips it to a bag, belt loop or branch
  • — Decent clarity and customizable 5-band EQ via the JBL Portable app
  • — IP67 waterproof and dustproof despite its tiny size
Watch-outs
  • — Sound gets crowded if you push the volume too high
  • — No speakerphone or aux input
  • — Mono sound only, though two can be paired for stereo
$59.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker
Ranked #4 in Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100
Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker
2 sources$100as of Oct 17

The Soundcore Boom 2 is a mini boombox-style Bluetooth speaker with a carry handle, an 80 W peak output, IPX7 waterproofing and a claimed 24-hour battery. CNET found it delivers impressive sound for its size and gave it an Editors' Choice award for 2024, while TechGearLab measured 33 hours 48 minutes of playback and a peak of 99.8 dB. Both note it has no dust-resistance rating, and TechGearLab heard compression at full volume and found the highs a little dull. It suits people who want a loud, bass-heavy speaker for parties, the pool or a campsite; anyone who wants something pocketable or a neutral, detailed sound should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Ran for 33 hours 48 minutes in TechGearLab's battery test, beating its 24-hour rating
  • — Measured 99.8 dB at full volume, loud enough for a mid-sized gathering
  • — IPX7 waterproof and floats if it falls into water
Watch-outs
  • — Weighs 3.7 lb and takes up about half a backpack
  • — Sound compresses and distorts at the highest volume
  • — No dust-resistance rating
$100 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

JBL Clip 5

The JBL Clip 5 shares an IP67 rating with the Sony SRS-XB100 and Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 and has an integrated carabiner for clipping to a bag or belt. It offers a 5-band EQ through the JBL Portable app, where the WONDERBOOM 4 has no app or EQ. Its 12-hour battery life is shorter than the SRS-XB100's 16 hours and the Anker Soundcore 2's 24 hours.

Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker

The Boom 2 is much larger than the JBL Clip 5: TechGearLab measured 3.7 lb against 0.6 lb, and the Clip 5 carries an IP67 dust and water rating where the Boom 2 is IPX7 waterproof only. In exchange, TechGearLab measured the Boom 2 at 100 dB to the Clip 5's 87 dB and recorded 33.8 hours of battery against 8.8. It is a bigger, louder alternative to the Sony SRS-XB100 and Anker Soundcore 2 for users who do not need a speaker that fits in a pocket.

Specs side-by-side

SpecJBL Clip 5Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker
Power Output7W RMS—
Battery LifeUp to 12 hours—
WaterproofingIP67 (waterproof + dustproof)—
Bluetooth5.3—
App EQJBL Portable (5-band EQ)—
MountingIntegrated carabiner—
ChargingUSB-CUSB-C, with USB-out port
DriversSingle full-range driver—
Wattage7W—
Peak Output—80 W
Water Resistance—IPX7, floats
Measured Weight—3.7 lb
Dimensions—12.0 x 4.0 x 7.0 in
Claimed Battery Life—24 hours
Speaker Linking—PartyCast 2.0
Connectivity—Bluetooth, multipoint pairing
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