

- #JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 UPGRADE#
- #JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 FULL#
- #JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 PORTABLE#
The JBL logo adorning the front of the speaker has been restyled and the five LEDs that reflected the Charge 4’s battery level have been replaced by a single vertical bar that serves the same purpose.
#JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 PORTABLE#
Still, if you’re a fan of the JBL sound, want that power bank functionality or simply prefer its looks, the Charge 5 is a solid choice for a portable (and waterproof) Bluetooth speaker.The best wireless speakers for streaming audio at home This, too, is more affordable than the Charge 5, despite offering Wi-Fi connectivity and voice assistant smarts. The only thing the Charge 5 can do that the Megaboom 3 can’t is charge another device.ĭon't forget about the Sonos Roam either. And the Megaboom 3 is a better all-around speaker, too, in terms of both sound and features. It doesn’t have many frills, aside from being able to charge another portable device, but it delivers impressive vocals and bass, and it can withstand the elements.Īt $179, its list price is lower than that of the Megaboom 3 - but UE’s speaker has been out for much longer, and often sells at a much lower price despite the MSRP. The JBL Charge 5 is a very good Bluetooth speaker. UE’s Boom & Megaboom app, by comparison, offers a five-band equalizer with several presets, as well as other features like an alarm and the ability to set a one-touch playlist. The sound you hear out of the box is the sound you get. There aren’t any preset sound modes or an equalizer. The app doesn’t let you make any kind of sound adjustments. I was able to get PartyBoost to work with the Charge 5 and a Flip 5, but strangely, not a Charge 4. The app is also how you manage PartyBoost, to connect to another JBL speaker in stereo mode or party mode.
#JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 UPGRADE#
You can download the JBL Portable app to upgrade the Charge 5’s firmware and see its battery level.

It had a good signal up to about 50 feet indoors, with walls between my phone and the speaker. The Charge 5 paired quickly with my phone. At a more reasonable 85 dB, the distortion disappeared and it was still loud enough to be heard over the din of a party or traffic. The Charge 5 put out about 94 dB at max volume - impressively loud, but the audio distorted pretty badly at that level. The difference between the two speakers was easier to hear when listening to Fleetwood Mac’s “Never Going Back Again ” while Lindsey Buckingham’s vocals were clearer on the Charge 5, the fingerpicked guitars were much fuller on the Megaboom 3. However, both songs sounded much fuller and richer on the Megaboom 3, although the vocals weren’t as far forward in the mix. The menacing bass and thumping drums were prominent on The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” but didn’t overwhelm his singing.

On Black Pumas’s “Fire,” the horns came across bright and punchy, while the vocals were clear above the guitar and keyboards.
#JBL CHARGE 4 VS CHARGE 5 FULL#
It sounds more balanced than the Charge 4, but it isn’t as full or wide as our current Bluetooth speaker top pick: the UE Megaboom 3. The Charge 5 delivers very good sound for a speaker its size, with easy-to-hear vocals and impressive bass.
