Beats Pill vs. JBL Charge 5: Which portable speaker is best?

It’s been a scorching hot summer, and the current influx of portable Bluetooth speakers has only raised temperatures. New models such as the redesigned Beats Pill (2024) are bringing the heat with enhanced audio, functionality and battery life never before experienced from the brand’s speaker line.

Competitors like the Sonos Roam 2 and UE Everboom are starting to pop up on consumers’ radars, but it’s market favorites like the JBL Charge 5 that are drawing serious interest because of their party-centric hallmarks. By that, we mean the speaker’s extensive charging capabilities, loud and spacious sound and waterproofing.

These are two of the best portable Bluetooth speakers under $200. Which is the better summer speaker and wireless audio investment? Scroll through our comparison to find out the winner.

Beats Pill vs. JBL Charge 5 at a glance

Quick comparison

Equally gratifying bass-blasters with great sound quality

As the bigger speaker, the Charge 5 houses more audio firepower underneath its damage-proof hood. The standard version has a long excursion driver and separate tweeter, with each side housing a passive bass radiator, and the Wi-Fi version has a larger woofer that extends lows and mids. Both models deliver wide, loud sound that travels far. JBL’s deep and punchy soundstage gets the party going and reproduces unique effects like synths extremely well, while equalizing mids and highs for full-bodied sound. You can expect terrific audio performance when enlisting the best music streaming services, specifically Tidal, which supports several advanced audio formats. Stereo sound can be achieved when pairing two of the same models (the Wi-Fi version is not compatible with the original).

The Pill has been reengineered with a new tweeter design that stabilizes mids and treble, plus two bigger drivers and an updated woofer system that dishes out boisterous bass. Furthermore, Beats fine-tuned its soundstage to divulge more mids and highs for expansive frequency range. The addition of lossless audio via wired connection boosts clarity and depth; most tracks on Apple Music and other streaming platforms sound compelling. Beats brought back the Amplify and Stereo modes for those who want a dual-speaker setup with satisfying surround sound presentation.

It’s worth noting that both speakers create significant distortion at high volume, so one must be cautious of how loudly they blast music, especially in closed surroundings.

TL;DR: Big sound highlighted by bold bass response will keep parties live and engaging, no matter what speaker you choose.

Practicality vs. portability

JBL put a lot of effort into making the Charge 5 very user-friendly. We love the physical controls on top that are easy to identify and locate. They produce solid tactile feedback that ensures intended commands are executed. Pairing is instantaneous with iOS and Android devices. The mobile app packs plenty of features, including a customizable EQ along with shortcut functions to enable assigned commands like audio customization, auto-off or volume adjustment. Then there’s the IP67 rating for dust-, rust-, shock-, and waterproofing. Just know that the Charge 5 (2.1 pounds) and Charge 5 Wi-Fi (2.2 pounds) are two hefty suckers.

While slightly larger than its predecessor, the new Pill weighs 2 ounces less and remains one of the more portable options out there. It’s sleeker than the Charge 5 with a sharp-looking capsule design and striking colorways. There’s an attachable lanyard on the side to carry the speaker in different ways (like on your backpack or bike handle). The rubber-coated control module is fine for enabling standard functions. A lack of extra ports limits the speaker’s extended functionality. IP67 certification provides the same protection as the Charge 5, though the Pill has more fragile components (dropping our unit on the ground caused a dent in the grille).

Like the best Apple headphones and the best Beats headphones, the Pill works seamlessly with Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Apple TV. Pairing is instantaneous with products linked to your iCloud account. Android users have one-tap Google Fast Pair and the Beats app to activate the same functions available on the Pill’s dedicated settings page in iOS.

The Charge 5 and Pill come with multipoint technology to pair to two audio sources simultaneously. Neither speaker has an aux input, but the Charge 5 possesses dual ports (USB-A, USB-C) for charging and wired listening, whereas the Pill has one USB-C port for the same purposes.

TL;DR: Go with the Charge 5 if you want a more multifaceted user experience, or pick the Pill to win over fashion-forward Apple enthusiasts.

Similar battery life with different charging capabilities

Battery life is the same on both models: 20 hours per charge. Each speaker also operates as an independent power bank to recharge devices likelaptops, smartphones and tablets. The Charge 5’s dual ports let you juice up two devices at the same time or recharge the speaker in two different ways. One USB-C port means the Pill can only recharge either its battery or a portable device at a given time. Beats’ Fast Fuel technology helps generate 2 hours of listening time on a 10-minute charge. It’s unknown whether JBL’s speaker supports quick charging, but what we do know is it takes longer to fully charge.

TL;DR: Playtimes are identical, but the Charge 5 grants more charging options, while the Pill recharges at a notably faster pace.

Bottom line

The Beats Pill ekes out a win with its more compact design and well-rounded performance at a lower price point. Audio quality is better than it ever was on the previous Pill entries. Music sounds dynamic, loud and spacious. Playtime is sufficient for a week’s worth of moderate listening, and Fast Fuel charging ensures you’re up and blasting tunes in a matter of minutes. Expanded features, terrific speakerphone capabilities and an updated design complete this package.

Don’t overlook the JBL Charge 5 because of its loss to the Pill, however. Both are high-performance speakers with enough boom to fill up your entire listening space. There’s some great bass and frequency range to enjoy that can also be personalized in the Charge 5’s companion app. The impenetrable exterior safeguards the speaker from most environmental hazards. Its charging prowess shouldn’t be ignored either. Unfortunately, the extra weight and noticeable omissions between the standard and Wi-Fi versions decrease the Charge 5’s value.