Portable speakers

How to buy a portable speaker: JBL, waterproofing, battery life

Updated 20 October 2026

First think about where it will play

Portable speakers vary a lot. A pocket-sized 5–10 W one sounds good in a room or a tent, but is too small for a yard or a picnic. A speaker like the JBL Charge 5 plays louder and can also charge your phone, but it is heavier. For parties and karaoke there are big speakers with microphone inputs and lights. So work out where the sound will play and for how many people.

What to look at in the specs

Protection from water and dust is rated under the IP standard: IP67 survives brief immersion, and IPX4 only splashes. For the beach or the pool, take higher protection. Battery time in the specs is given at medium volume, and at full volume it is noticeably shorter. Power in watts helps to compare models from one brand, but you shouldn't compare different makers by watts alone.

Two more things are easy to miss: the ability to pair two speakers as a stereo pair, and support for your codec or app. If you only listen from a phone, basic Bluetooth is enough. Party-linking modes, such as JBL's PartyBoost, usually work only between compatible models from the same maker, so check this before buying a second one.

Original, copy, used

Popular brands are often faked: the body looks similar, but the sound and battery are worse. If an original matters, say so plainly and ask for proof: bill, warranty, serial number. For used speakers, check the battery capacity (how long it really lasts), the state of the grille and rubber covers, and whether the ports work.

What to put in your request

• model: for example, JBL Charge 5;
• power: in watts, if you know what you need;
• new or used;
• features: IP67 protection, battery time, microphone and karaoke, power bank function, lights;
• what for: picnic, travel, shower, party;
• original or copy;
• colour;
• warranty, delivery, budget.

Example: “I need an original portable JBL speaker with IP67 protection and at least 20 hours of battery, for picnics, blue, new with a warranty. Courier delivery to Johannesburg, budget up to R 1,600.”

How searching works on BlaBlaPrice

You write a request on BlaBlaPrice, and sellers reply in the chat with offers: which model, what condition, what price, how it will be shipped. They compete for your choice, so the terms often get better. The best offer by value is shown first, with reviews beside each. You pay nothing, and your phone is hidden. It is handy when you want to compare several models of one class without going through dozens of listings. Details are on the “How it works” page.

If you need a speaker for home, also see speaker systems and music systems.