Jbl Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black)

JBL's portable Charge 5 speaker delivers surprisingly powerful Bluetooth audio from a compact, waterproof frame, making it the ideal travel companion for going just about anywhere.

• +

  Powerful, bass-forward, bright sound signature, Gets loud for its relatively compact size, Fully waterproof design, USB-A port for charging mobile devices

• -

  App lacks EQ, No speakerphone

JBL launched a bunch of products at CES this year, but few looked to be as promising as the Charge 5. Part rugged Bluetooth speaker, part power bank, the newest entry in the Charge series has much to offer, but it’s a lot more spendy than your average Bluetooth speaker.

• +

  Battery lifeEasily lasts two weeks with daily use., Design and materialsLooks and feels like a football, in the best way possible., SoundFrom music to podcasts, it's a fantastic listening experience., PortabilityIt's hefty but not too large to be thrown into a backpack for a day trip.

• -

  No wired inputThe Charge 5 loses its 3.5mm jack from the last-gen model., PartyBoostJBL's third revision of its stereo sync feature means the Charge 4 and Charge 5 speakers are incompatible., Connection issuesSome cutouts that required restarting the speaker to fix.

This summer is going to be full of trips to the beach and backyard parties, and you'll need just the right speaker to DJ these events. The JBL Charge 5 is the newest release in its waterproof speaker product line, and it does a fantastic job of producing clear and loud sound.

• +

  Sound quality, IP67 rating, Bluetooth multipoint, Can charge your mobile devices

• -

  No microphone, Bulky, No wired listening

If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth party speaker that will last all day and then some, is waterproof, has big sound, and isn’t unwieldy to carry around, the JBL Charge 5 may be the one for you.

• +

  Compact, water/dustproof design, Big sound, Easy to use, Can pair with other JBL speakers for bigger sound, All day battery life, Power bank feature

• -

  A bit on the pricey side, Software app is pretty basic, No equalizer option in software

With a new look, a little more ruggedness and improved sound, the JBL Charge 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers — just not one of the cheapest. The JBL Charge 5 is a very good Bluetooth speaker.

• +

  Full vocals, Rich bass, Good battery life

• -

  Limited app, Few extras

If you want a powerful speaker that doubles as a power bank and can handle getting wet, this is it

• +

  Durable, high-quality, IP67-rated water-resistant build, Sleek aesthetic despite ruggedization, Premium materials for a great in-hand feel, 20 or more hours of battery is easily within reach, USB-A port for reverse wired charging at 10W, Multi-speaker pairing via PartyBoost, Powerful bass down to...

• -

  Bluetooth-only, No voice assistant access, 65Hz to 20kHz instead of 20Hz to 20kHz frequencies supported

It took me a few days to wrap my head around the key stamp that this product makes upon the Bluetooth speaker market: it’s really two products in one. You can charge any USB-equipped device—be it a smartphone, tablet, game controller, or even some laptops—using the Charge 5’s pass-thru.

• +

  Solid sound quality, Built-in powerbank is very useful, Dust- and water-proof

• -

  Not everyone will want/need the added charging feature

JBL Charge 5 plays loud and powerful, and is the one you want to take with you on a ride.

• +

  Powerful sound, good battery life, several can be connected.

• -

  Slightly sharp treble, no sound settings in the app.

Today in our JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker review, we’re going to focus on JBL’s newest speaker – The Charge 5. It’s designed for people who want a rugged, no-nonsense Bluetooth speaker that’s portable and convenient.

The paradox of choice is ever present in the bluetooth speaker world. When looking to buy one, you’ll be faced with tons of options to the point you may feel so overwhelmed and spend weeks researching before you get the slightest idea of what you want.

These things sound awesome. I don't know why people complain about the JBL app. I had absolutely no trouble pairing two of them together. The sound quality is comparable to larger outdoor speakers but these are small enough to place on small shelves mounted high in the pool cabana. Awesome product!

• +

  Sound and build quality

Very nice bombastic sound even on at low volumes, and definitely waterproof/condensation proof. Great for camping.

Louder than expected; pretty good. Connects quickly, too.

Truthfully I was expecting better. Since this speaker is bigger than my last one and more expensive I was expecting much better sound. The bass is Ok but I hear a lot of background noise on the treble side. I read a ton of reviews before deciding on this speaker and most were very positive.

• -

  Sound is just ok.

Nice product. Seems to be very well built. So far a good choice . Close up it sounds very full with decent bass.

• +

  It's new but so far it feels like could take any rough handling.

• -

  Better to be close to this hardy speaker.

This unit has great tone for both music and podcasts /audio books. The ability to charge devices from is a nice piece of insurance in today's device driven world. I have a Charge 4 at home and keep this one in my vehicle so I am never without tunes. Great at the beach too!

Great sound from a little speaker. Perfect for bringing your music outside with you.

• +

  Very good sound quality.Easy to sync.Battery life is very good.

Great speaker.. can't fault it at all. Nice design. Plenty of bass for its size.. another addition to my jbl collection

Bought it to use when in hot tub as water proof, really great sound with deep base, good that can be used to charge the phone from it, battery lasts hours

Better than my previous Charge 3