JBL
JBL Charge 5
$179.95
Released 2021
Best Portable Speakers · head-to-head
JBL Charge 5 vs Sonos Roam 2
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Sonos Roam 2 is cheaper at $179. Every spec and price links to its source.
Sonos
Sonos Roam 2
$179Cheaper
Released 2024-05
Which is better: the JBL Charge 5 or Sonos Roam 2?
The Sonos Roam 2 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Sonos Roam 2 is the cheaper at $179. The Sonos Roam 2 both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | JBL Charge 5 | Sonos Roam 2 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $179.95 | $179 |
| Brand | JBL | Sonos |
| Released | 2021 | 2024-05 |
| Battery hr | 20 | 10 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Drivers | 1×90mm woofer + 1×20mm tweeter + 2 passive radiators | 1 tweeter + 1 midwoofer |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Weight (lb) | 2.12 | 0.95 |
| Stereo pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Aux (in) | No | No |
| Release | 2021 | 2024-05 |
Sources — JBL Charge 5: manua.ls (verified 2026-06-15). Sonos Roam 2: sonos.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the JBL Charge 5 and Sonos Roam 2?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Battery hr: JBL Charge 5 20 vs Sonos Roam 2 10
- Drivers: JBL Charge 5 1×90mm woofer + 1×20mm tweeter + 2 passive radiators vs Sonos Roam 2 1 tweeter + 1 midwoofer
- Bluetooth: JBL Charge 5 5.1 vs Sonos Roam 2 5.2
- Weight (lb): JBL Charge 5 2.12 vs Sonos Roam 2 0.95
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
JBL Charge 5
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, SoundGuys) covered the exact JBL Charge 5 hands-on; only Tom's Guide took instrument measurements. All praise balanced, bass-forward sound, loud output, IP67 ruggedness, and a 20-hour battery with USB-A power-bank charging, while flagging audible distortion once you push past ~60% volume. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Balanced, bass-forward sound that punches above the speaker's size; Long ~20-hour battery life plus USB-A power-bank charging; IP67 dust/waterproof rugged build for outdoor use.
Flagged: Audible distortion at high volume (past ~60% / at max); Dropped the 3.5mm aux jack from the Charge 4; Weak or absent app EQ/sound controls.
Sonos Roam 2
No sourced tester review yet.