Is the Sony SRS-XE300 better than the JBL Charge 5?

For most people, the JBL Charge 5 is the safer all-around pick, especially if you want a compact speaker that many listeners find easy to enjoy right out of the box. It also has a built-in power bank, which is a useful extra.

The Sony SRS-XE300 makes more sense if you specifically want call support with a microphone, or if you care more about wider sound dispersion for gatherings and outdoor listening.

A simple way to choose:

• Pick JBL Charge 5 if you want the more straightforward everyday music speaker.
• Pick Sony SRS-XE300 if you want speakerphone features or a broader sound spread.

Sound preferences vary, so the better one depends on what matters most to you. If you can, try both or compare them in the kind of setting you’ll actually use them in.