Experts praised the JBL Charge 5, endorsing it for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. Reviewers at Sound Guys adored the IP67 waterproof, dust-proof construction. Testers at Tech Hive loved its 58.2Hz to 18.5KHz frequency response range and near-neutral 0.29 slope, producing well-balanced music. It weighed just 2.0 lbs during testing. However, if you need a smaller speaker, consider the JBL Clip 4 review. Reaching an 88.9 dB maximum SPL with a 3.16 dB DRC, this unit is loud, although there’s sound compression at the highest volume. Check out our JBL Boombox 2 review if you require a louder speaker. It has a graphic EQ, and testing revealed a remarkable 14.5-hour battery life. A 125 ms iOS Bluetooth latency and 102 ms Bluetooth latency proved to be high. It lacks low-bass and has a 4.27 dB directivity index, offering a mediocre soundstage. Explore our iFox iF012 review for a wider soundstage. Also, the Charge 5 doesn’t have speakerphone functions. It doesn’t support stereo or any voice assistants.
JBL Charge 5 Review
True Score
Experts
Consumers
Expert Rankings
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Top experts were pleased with the JBL Charge 5, and they approved it for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. They linked its balanced sound profile, portable design, and great battery life. Testers are also pleased with its IP67-rated waterproof design. However, they were displeased with its lack of voice assistants and lack of stereo.
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What Is Not on the Box
What the brand doesn’t always tell you…
our Verdict
Reasons to Buy
- IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof construction
- Well-balanced sound profile
- Portable 2.0-lb construction
- 14-5 hour battery life
- Dual-device Bluetooth 5.1 connection
Reasons to Avoid
- Lacks support for stereo
- Narrow soundstage
- Doesn’t support any voice assistants
- Mediocre low-bass
- Poor Bluetooth latency is not good for movies
Specifications
- Battery Life20 hours
- Built In Microphonena
- Charge Time4 hours
- Size3.76 inches (h) x 8.7 inches (w) x 3.67 inches (d) (Weight: 2.11 pounds)
- Smart AppJBL Portable
- Speaker PairingYes
- Water ResistantYes
- Wattage40 watts
- Wireless Range30 meters
Overview
The JBL Charge 5 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2021, promising waterproof construction and a power bank for on-the-go users. It runs on Bluetooth 5.1, boasting an incredible 328.1-foot Bluetooth range. Find speakers with a similar Bluetooth range in our list of the top-rated speakers. This device also supports dual-device Bluetooth pairing. Featuring a PartyBoost button, it connects to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers. Continue browsing our JBL Charge 5 review below and see how it measures up against the top Bluetooth speakers today.
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Product Comparison
 |  |  |  | | |
| True Score | 85 | 83 | 85 | 80 | 80 |
| Market Context | – | The JBL Charge 5 has a more neutral 0.29 frequency response slope, offering more balanced music than the JBL Flip 5 with its -0.31 slope. Additionally, the Charge 5 also has an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, unlike the Flip 5. However, the Flip 5 speaker has a lower 96 ms Android Bluetooth latency than the 125 ms latency of the JBL Charge 5 speaker. Browse our JBL Flip 5 review for details about the Flip 5 speaker. | Weighing 2.0 lbs, the JBL Charge 5 is more portable than the 4.2-lb JBL Xtreme 3 speaker. However, the Xtreme 3 speaker supports stereo, unlike the JBL Charge 5, which downmixes stereo to mono. | Featuring a 14.5-hour battery life, The JBL Charge 5 runs for twice as long as the Bose SoundLink Flex, which has 7.2-hour battery life. However, the Bose speakers support voice assistants through a smartphone, unlike the JBL Charge 5, which doesn’t support voice assistants. | Featuring a 14.5-hour battery life, The JBL Charge 5 runs for twice as long as the Bose SoundLink Flex, which has 7.2-hour battery life. However, the Bose speakers support voice assistants through a smartphone, unlike the JBL Charge 5, which doesn’t support voice assistants. |
| Wireless Range | 30 meters | 75 feet | N/A | 30 feet | 30 feet |
| Battery Life | 20 hours | 12 hours | 15 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Charge Time | 4 hours | 2.5 hours | 2.5 hour(s) | 4 hours | 4 hours |
| Wattage | 40 Watt | 20 wats | 50 Watt | 7 watts | 7 watts |
| Size | 3.76″ (h) x 8.7″ (w) x 3.67″ (d) (Weight: 2.11 pounds) | 2.91″ (h) x 7.12″ (w) x 2.71″ (d) (Weight: 1.2 pounds) | 11.8″ (w) x 5.3″ (d) x 5.4″ (h) (Weight: 4.34 lbs) | 3.56″ (h) x 7.93″ (w) x 2.06″ (d) (Weight: 1.3 pounds) | 3.56″ (h) x 7.93″ (w) x 2.06″ (d) (Weight: 1.3 pounds) |
| Dig Deeper | – | Read Review → | Read Review → | Read Review → | Read Review → |
All Stores
- $179.95
Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh
Expert Score Breakdown
Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight
ATrust Score
68JBL launched a bunch of products at CES this year, but few looked to be… read more- D
Trust Score
80Whether your season is full of trips to the beach or backyard parties, you’ll need… read more - D
Trust Score
80JBL’s portable Charge 5 speaker delivers surprisingly powerful Bluetooth audio from a compact, waterproof frame,… read more - D
Trust Score
80This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers astounding audio considering its relatively diminutive scale. Our main criticism… read more - D
Trust Score
80The JBL Charge 5 is a great choice if you’re after a rugged Bluetooth speaker… read more - D
Trust Score
80The JBL Charge 5 is alright for music. Thanks to its balanced mids, it reproduces… read more
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