


- JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR UPGRADE
- JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR PORTABLE
- JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR BLUETOOTH
Around back, you’ll find the small USB-C charging port and the power bank’s USB, the latter of which is covered by a rubber seal to keep out dust and moisture.
JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR BLUETOOTH
The power and Bluetooth keys are separated in the center of the other buttons in a small cutout, while the others blend in with the speaker’s fabric grille along the top of the device. The first thing you’re going to want to do is figure out the controls, and it really couldn’t be simpler.įrom left to right across the top of the speaker, you’ve got raised, tactile buttons for PartyBoost, Volume Down, Power, Bluetooth pairing, Volume Up, and Play/Pause.
JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR PORTABLE
I’ve always loved JBL’s portable Bluetooth speaker design, and that’s no different for the Charge 5. It isn’t jaw-dropping, shelf speaker quality, but for a portable speaker that doubles as a charging bank, it’s darn good. JBL’s Flip 5 is one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers ever, primarily due to its well-rounded, warm, robust sound quality-and the Charge 5 captures that same efficacy. Still, you probably shouldn't bathe with it-that's just weird, right? The IP67 rating means you can expose this device to dust and water liberally without excessive worry. There's plenty of bass and midrange support, but without skimping on higher treble frequencies either. Whether I was using it inside or out, the Charge 5 provided robust sound quality with both ample volume and well-balanced frequency distribution. The Charge 5’s ability to charge up another device may earn it its namesake, but it wouldn’t be worth much if it didn’t sound good while doing it. But generally, the approach here seems to be the age-old, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" theory. In addition, the speaker has received some minor cosmetic changes.
JBL CHARGE 5 BATTERY INDICATOR UPGRADE
Otherwise, what really differentiates the Charge from something like JBL’s Flip line is the built-in power bank.Īs mentioned, The Charge 5 is now dustproof, and has also received an upgrade to its Bluetooth version (from 5.0 to 5.1). You’re getting the standard Bluetooth connectivity here (no Wi-Fi, etc.) as well as JBL’s “PartyBoost” feature, which allows you to chain connections to other JBL PartyBoost-equipped speakers, creating a multi-speaker setup. Just like the Charge 4 and Flip 5, the Charge 5 doesn’t overcomplicate things-it’s fairly frills-free as features go. Special features: PartyBoost, built-in powerbank.Speakers/drivers: 52x90mm woofer 20mm tweeter.Battery life: Up to 20 hours per charge.Colors: Black, Blue, Grey, Red, Teal, and Squad (Camo).Width x Height x Depth: 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inches.JBL's Charge 5 gets its name from its ability to charge USB-based devices like a smartphone while it plays music. Regardless, the Charge 5 is an excellent Bluetooth speaker in every respect, and the latest version's new dust-proof design should make it the most rugged in the lineup to date. In addition, it only makes minimal improvements over the more affordable Charge 4, so if you want this functionality at a bit of a discount, that's worthy of consideration. If you really don’t think you need the charging ability, you could save some money and get the Flip instead. The Flip 5 is nearly the same product, minus the pass-thru charging and boosted battery life, and you’re paying a not-inconsiderable surcharge for those features. That doesn’t mean the Charge 5 is perfect for everyone, of course. A rugged, waterproof option that delivers a robust, bass-forward take on music and has enough battery life to last for extra-long outings and charge the device you’re playing music from, keeping the jams jamming to the jamth degree. The latest in the Charge lineup offers great sound and battery-life, with added durability to boot.Īs you may have guessed, the Charge 5 marks JBL’s fifth iteration in the Charge line of portable Bluetooth speakers, and this is the best version yet.
