OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0

Samsung VL5 Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£620Audio output power:155.00 WBattery life:?IP rating:?Bluetooth version:4.2Weight:4600 g

Samsung VL5 Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

Samsung VL5
7.1/10

Overall score

Score
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components

80%

7.4

Technical score

20%

5.8

User score

â–²Better than 73% of portable speakers
7.1

Value for money

Value for money
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 90% of models
Score components

70%

7.1

Overall score

30%

7.2

Price

â–¼Worse than 90%
7.4

Technical score

Technical score
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 92% of models
Score components

32%

8.1

Audio

20%

6.9

Battery

18%

7.8

Durability

16%

6.4

Connectivity

8%

7.8

Controls

3%

5.1

Design

3%

7.7

Smart features

★Better than 92%
5.8

User score

User score
5.8/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 98% of models
Score components

70%

7.0

User ratings

30%

3.2

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–¼Worse than 98%
  • samsung-vl5
samsung-vl5
Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of portable speaker Samsung VL5

Technical score
Technical score
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 92% of models
Score components:

32%

8.1

Audio

20%

6.9

Battery

18%

7.8

Durability

16%

6.4

Connectivity

8%

7.8

Controls

3%

5.1

Design

3%

7.7

Smart features

7.4
User score
User score
5.8/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 98% of models
Score components

70%

7.0

User ratings

30%

3.2

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
5.8
Popularity
Popularity
3.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
Popularity:
Samsung VL5 has a popularity score of 3.2 points, which is lower than 54.5% of products in this category.
3.2
Value for money
Value for money
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 90% of models
Score components:

70%

7.1

Overall score

30%

7.2

Price

7.1
Audio output power
155 W
Market range: <4 W – >100 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 155 W which is higher than that of 95.2% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
?
Number of drivers
5
Market range: <0 – >5
This portable speaker has 5 drivers, which is more than 93.7% of portable speakers and equal to the number in 3.1% of portable speakers.
Frequency response tolerance
?
Lowest frequency
40 Hz
Market range: <20 Hz – >120 Hz
This portable speaker has a lowest frequency of 40 Hz which is lower than that of 74.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 4.6% of portable speakers.
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio. 5.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
4.2
Market range: <3 – >5.3
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth version 4.2 which is older than that of 53.8% of portable speakers and equal to that of 17.8% of portable speakers.
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
Market range: <10 m – >30 m
This portable speaker has a maximum Bluetooth range of 10 m which is longer than that of 4.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 70.2% of portable speakers.
Bluetooth profiles supported
?
Bluetooth LE Audio
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio. 2.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Battery life
?
Battery capacity
?
Charging time
?
Maximum charging input power
?
Built-in rechargeable battery
no
This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery. 81.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
IP rating
?
Water resistance
?
Dust resistance
?
Waterproof depth rating
?
Drop resistance
?
Show more
On-device controls placement
top
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
yes
This portable speaker supports smartphone app control. 46.1% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Compatible mobile app provides speaker control or settings.
Remote control
?
Fast pairing
no
This portable speaker does not support fast pairing. 22.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Weight
4,600 g
Market range: <200 g – >5.6k g
This portable speaker weighs 4,600 g which is heavier than that of 87.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.3% of portable speakers.
Height
21.2 cm
Market range: <5.79 cm – >29 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 21.2 cm which is taller than that of 80.8% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.2% of portable speakers.
Width
52.2 cm
Market range: <7.6 cm – >37 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 52.2 cm which is wider than that of 98.5% of portable speakers.
Depth
7 cm
Market range: <4.3 cm – >19.97 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 7 cm which is shallower than that of 63.2% of portable speakers and equal to that of 2.1% of portable speakers.
Carry options
none
Show more
Companion app name
?
Firmware updates
yes
This portable speaker supports firmware updates. 52.9% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
Firmware update method
OTA
Voice assistant support
no
This portable speaker does not support voice assistants. 26.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Spotify Connect
yes
This portable speaker supports Spotify Connect. 89.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more

Samsung VL5 vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • 135 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (155 W vs 20 W).
    155 W vs 20 W
  • 3 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (5 vs 2).
    5 vs 2
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 5 more EQ presets
    This portable speaker has more EQ presets than the average portable speaker (5 vs 0).
    5 vs 0
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • Claims MIL-STD-810 compliance
    This portable speaker claims MIL-STD-810 compliance, while the average portable speaker does not claim MIL-STD-810 compliance.
  • 20 Hz deeper bass extension
    This portable speaker has deeper bass extension than the average portable speaker (40 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    40 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • 135 W more audio output power
    This portable speaker has more audio output power than the average portable speaker (155 W vs 20 W).
    155 W vs 20 W
  • 3 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (5 vs 2).
    5 vs 2
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • 20 Hz deeper bass extension
    This portable speaker has deeper bass extension than the average portable speaker (40 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    40 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • Supports Wi-Fi connectivity
    This portable speaker supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average portable speaker does not support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Has Ethernet support
    This portable speaker has Ethernet support, while the average portable speaker does not have Ethernet support.
  • Supports AAC Bluetooth audio
    This portable speaker supports AAC Bluetooth audio, while the average portable speaker does not support AAC Bluetooth audio.
  • Includes a power adapter
    This portable speaker includes a power adapter, while the average portable speaker does not include a power adapter.
  • Claims MIL-STD-810 compliance
    This portable speaker claims MIL-STD-810 compliance, while the average portable speaker does not claim MIL-STD-810 compliance.
  • 5 more EQ presets
    This portable speaker has more EQ presets than the average portable speaker (5 vs 0).
    5 vs 0
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • Supports party mode
    This portable speaker supports party mode, while the average portable speaker does not support party mode.
    Supports synchronized multi-speaker party/group playback.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • Has a sleep timer
    This portable speaker has a sleep timer, while the average portable speaker does not have a sleep timer.
    A selectable timer can stop playback or power the speaker down.
  • Supports multi-room audio
    This portable speaker supports multi-room audio, while the average portable speaker does not support multi-room audio.
    Supports synchronized multi-room playback.
  • Supports Spotify Connect
    This portable speaker supports Spotify Connect, while the average portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect.
  • Supports firmware updates
    This portable speaker supports firmware updates, while the average portable speaker does not support firmware updates.
    Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
  • Does not include a passive radiator
    This portable speaker does not include a passive radiator, while the average portable speaker includes a passive radiator.
  • 3,800 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (4,600 g vs 800 g).
    4,600 g vs 800 g
  • Does not support stereo pairing
    This portable speaker does not support stereo pairing, while the average portable speaker supports stereo pairing.
  • Does not support True Wireless Stereo
    This portable speaker does not support True Wireless Stereo, while the average portable speaker supports True Wireless Stereo.
  • 5 °C higher minimum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher minimum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (5 °C vs 0 °C).
    5 °C vs 0 °C
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • 0.8 Bluetooth levels older
    This portable speaker has an older Bluetooth version than the average portable speaker (4.2 vs 5).
    4.2 vs 5
  • 6.89x more expensive
    Samsung VL5 is more expensive than the average portable speaker (£620 vs £90).
    £620 vs £90
  • 36.8% lower user score
    User score
    5.8/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
    When it matters
    When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    Samsung VL5
    the average portable speaker
    Samsung VL5 has a lower user score than the average portable speaker (5.85 vs 8).
    5.85 vs 8
  • 5.7% worse value for money
    Samsung VL5 offers worse value for money than the average portable speaker (7.14 vs 7.5).
    7.14 vs 7.55
  • Does not include a passive radiator
    This portable speaker does not include a passive radiator, while the average portable speaker includes a passive radiator.
  • 0.8 Bluetooth levels older
    This portable speaker has an older Bluetooth version than the average portable speaker (4.2 vs 5).
    4.2 vs 5
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
  • Does not have a battery level indicator
    This portable speaker does not have a battery level indicator, while the average portable speaker has a battery level indicator.
  • 5 °C higher minimum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher minimum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (5 °C vs 0 °C).
    5 °C vs 0 °C
  • 5 °C lower maximum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a lower maximum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (35 °C vs 40 °C).
    35 °C vs 40 °C
  • Does not support stereo pairing
    This portable speaker does not support stereo pairing, while the average portable speaker supports stereo pairing.
  • Does not support True Wireless Stereo
    This portable speaker does not support True Wireless Stereo, while the average portable speaker supports True Wireless Stereo.
  • 3,800 g heavier
    This portable speaker is heavier than the average portable speaker (4,600 g vs 800 g).
    4,600 g vs 800 g
  • 34.1 cm wider
    This portable speaker is wider than the average portable speaker (52.2 cm vs 18.1 cm).
    52.2 cm vs 18.1 cm
  • 8.8 cm taller
    This portable speaker is taller than the average portable speaker (21.2 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    21.2 cm vs 12.4 cm

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

G
gearpatrol.com
15/06/2018
Summary of the review
Review: This Hi-Fi Wireless Speaker Has a Portable Volume Dial (And It's Brilliant)
E
expertreviews.co.uk
03/12/2018
Summary of the review
Samsung AKG VL5 (VL550) review: An innovative smart speaker with a punchy sound
T
trustedreviews.com
12/12/2018
Summary of the review
Samsung AKG VL5 Review - Trusted Reviews
H
hifichoice.com
25/03/2019
Summary of the review
Samsung VL5 wireless speaker - Hi-Fi Choice
Q
qz.com
20/07/2022
Summary of the review
Samsung’s new wireless speaker is as beautiful as it is useful - Quartz
D
digihelpdesk.co.uk
13/01/2025
Summary of the review
Samsung VL550 wireless smart speaker review - Digi Helpdesk Expert Reviews
F
fwd.nl
30/06/2018
Summary of the review
Samsung VL550 Review – expensive Wi-Fi speaker with a cool accessory
(Translated)Show original
B
bright.nl
11/06/2018
Summary of the review
Tested: Can the Samsung AKG speaker compete with Sonos?
(Translated)Show original

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: August 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Samsung VL5

  • Stunning sound quality tuned and certified by AKG
  • Deep, powerful, and tight bass with minimal distortion due to distortion-cancelling technology
  • Wide, room-filling soundstage that stays punchy even at lower volumes
  • Innovative, tactile 'hockey puck' wireless moving dial remote control
  • Minimalist, elegant retro design featuring a seamless aluminum body and wood finish
  • Seamless integration with Samsung SmartThings app and Samsung TVs for multi-speaker setups
  • Voice assistant support allowing users to speak directly into the remote's microphone

What customers don't like about Samsung VL5

  • Expensive original retail price tag
  • Lacks a built-in battery, meaning it requires a permanent mains power source and is not truly portable
  • SmartThings app has limited native Wi-Fi streaming source options compared to competitors
  • Large, heavy, and bulky footprint weighing around 5kg
  • No built-in smart voice assistant, requiring a connected phone or tablet to process commands
  • Multi-room grouping features can occasionally be unstable or drop connection
  • Not waterproof or dustproof for outdoor use

Verdict

The Samsung VL5 (VL550) is a premium wireless home speaker measuring 522 x 212 x 70 mm and weighing 4.6 kg, engineered in partnership with AKG. It features a retro, minimalist aesthetic with an aluminum body and wood-paneled trim, packing a powerful multi-driver setup that includes three 5-inch mid/bass woofers and two 1-inch tweeters to deliver room-filling sound. Main characteristics and pros include integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Samsung SmartThings multi-room integration, UHQ 32-bit audio upscaling, distortion-cancelling technology, and a unique, detachable magnetic wireless "Moving Dial" remote puck with a built-in microphone for seamless playback and voice assistant controls. However, notable cons include its lack of true portability due to its substantial weight and a strictly corded electric AC/DC power dependency, alongside a lack of a built-in visual display and slower voice recognition response times when routing commands through a paired smartphone.

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