JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge 5 – Which Speaker is Better?

The Bluetooth speaker market is currently being dominated by a barrage of models sold at discounted rates. Several makers are releasing their models together to make things worse for the customer.

In some cases, the models are released within a short gap of not even a year between the two units. This can perhaps cause discrepancies in the sale of the products that are present in the market.

In today’s review, we will discuss two phenomenal models. These models have managed to cater to the needs of the masses. They are the JBL Charge 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker vs the JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Portable Speaker.

JBL is a famous manufacturer which has been producing speakers for some time in the market. They have been in the industry, and their products are popular among users of all ages. That is because they are reliable, durable, and come affordable, to say the least.

The JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker is an exceptional choice for a speaker because it is infused with remarkable features. The model comes available in 15 colors. That are a lot of colors for you to choose from.

It has outstanding features like the IPX7 rating that makes it worthwhile when you are outdoors. Though it rains or you are using it near a swimming pool, you do not have to worry about it. The vocals are good and offer plenty of juice to it.

However, they sound slightly underemphasized because of their less treble range in them. That should not be a reason for concern. It is a small Bluetooth speaker, and you may not want to use it in windy situations because of the low bass.

Unfortunately, the model does not have an EQ where you can adjust the music settings. The JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is a good choice for users. Unlike the Charge 4 model, it offers more juice in the sound performance.

You can use it to listen to your favorite kind of music. Besides, it is rugged in design and does not break easily. You would delight in the fact that it comes with dust and water-resistant features. But the Charge 4 model has a Connect+ function that is not in here.

Instead, you can make use of a PartyBoost button. With that, you can now connect to the PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers. However, the music cannot go deep. It is safe to note the unit is an enhanced improvement on the Charge 4 unit.

But is it good enough to be proclaimed as the winner in the post? Is it worth the price point? Maybe you can choose Charge 4 instead as it is priced lower and has decent features as well. Let us read the entire post. We have given the winner at the end of the review.

JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge 5: Design & Features

The Bluetooth speaker must have an excellent design & features. The JBL Charge 4 model comes with an elegant design and intense features. It is shaped like the usual cylindrical shape. You can place it horizontally.

The base comes produced of plastic but is sturdy. You would delight in the fact that it comes with a barrage of colors. You can choose the color that resonates with your feelings and emotions.

There is a bass radiator on either side of the speaker. This helps the speaker to produce more sound. Our tester thought that the speaker came nicely portable. You can move it around effortlessly and place it inside your backpack.

Some speakers are pretty large, and you may have difficulty placing them inside your bag. Users can easily hold it in their hands. You can move around with it without discomfort. Besides, the build quality is good, and it can withstand falls with no damage.

It also comes with the IPX7 rating. You can place it inside the water for 30 minutes without the model getting ruined. Now, you do not have to worry about the device getting wet when placed near the swimming pool or if you want to take it inside the washroom.

Of course, you may not want to place it inside the bathtub or near electrical devices. Please use caution and avoid touching it with your wet hands. The material is otherwise robust and excellent.

You can find the USB and the AUX ports at the speaker’s rear. This is a common feature of most Bluetooth speakers. Nothing exceptional about that. The buttons are good and firm. You can feel the firmness when you are using it.

That is good in a way. You can use the button for Bluetooth and Connect+, which allows you to pair more than 90 JBL models. Moreover, you can find the light that helps you understand if the battery is working and the pairing process.

It chimes when you have reached the maximum volume. The JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker comes with a distinctive design & features. The designs of both the speakers are almost on par with each other.

However, the Charge 5 model has a sturdier JBL logo. It appears slightly large on it. Similar to what is found on the JBL Xtreme 3. We liked the design found on the Charge 5 as it looks elegant and steady.

The power, battery indicator, and Bluetooth come to life as you switch on the speaker. Likewise, the Charge 5 arrives in attractive colors. Though you do not have as many choices as the other model discussed here, it comes with good options.

You can carry the speaker in one hand without discomfort. It is portable, too, allowing you to move around effortlessly. You can place it inside your backpack. The battery life is pretty exceptional, giving you the ability to use it outdoors.

The build quality is good. It comes with the IPX7 rating allowing you to take it to the beach or swimming pool. You should not be worried about the device having water falling on it. Yes, it is resistant to dirt and water.

You can keep it in the water for 30 minutes. Two bass radiators can be found on the side of the model. At the rear, you can notice two ports: the USB-A port and a Type-C charging. A small beep highlights the fact that you have reached the maximum volume of the speaker.

Consumers may want to understand that the pause and play buttons must be pressed twice. But you cannot skip to the earlier track even if you want. The speaker can be paired with other devices using Bluetooth connectivity.

Of course, you need to use the appropriate button to do that. You can use the PartyBoost button by pressing it to connect to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers. You can use the feature using the companion app.

Overall, the design & features of the speakers are elegant and robust in build quality. The features are good, with the most notable being the IPX7 rating. We felt that Charge 5 has a slight lead here.

JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge 5: Setup & Performance

The JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker comes with a good setup & performance. The model’s frequency response accuracy is average. It comes with a mid-range that offers you an opulent vocal.

Sometimes the instruments can sound slightly dull and different depending on the music heard. As the model’s small size, it does not come with a good thump and a suitable rumble in the low bass.

Its dynamics are just fine. You will want to know that the songs do not get too loud. Besides, there is some compression when you reach the maximum volume. You may not be able to hear what you prefer making it not suitable for crowded parties.

The battery’s working life is good, coming in at 20 hours on a single charge. Though the manufacturer claims more, users have said that they can give close to 14 hours. It depends on the usage.

We liked using the portable app. It works just fine, and you can use it on Android and iOS apps. You can now connect two speakers. With the party mode feature, you can connect to several devices for use in a large area.

The Bluetooth performance is phenomenal. You can pair it with two devices at once. Besides, we noted that the range of the device is good. You can operate it even though the speaker is kept far away.

This is useful when you want to alter the source from your laptop to the smartphone. Moreover, the latency found on Android and iOS devices is relatively low, enabling you to watch videos.

The unit is amazingly refined for the price point. It is able to provide you with a consistent substance. We can call it much better than most of the models that are found in the midrange market.

The JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker offers you with a stunning performance. It comes with neutral sound quality. The vocals and the audio quality present are good. There is intense performance making it ideal for using for a barrage of music.

There is not much low bass that does not let you enjoy pop music. But it allows you to pair two devices at the same time. This feature is good. It helps you switch the audio source as and when you want between the laptop and the smartphone.

The latency with the Android and iOS smartphones is low. You can now watch videos effortlessly. Some of the apps compromise for the latency quite differently. The range also is good.

You can use it even when the source is far away. The battery life is good. It can work more than 20 hours. However, it can run for more than 14 hours when used for listening to music at 80% volume.

You can perhaps, reduce the volume and listen to it. Consumers can make use of the power-saving feature. The companion app is excellent. You can use the graphic EQ to customize the sound profile to your preference.

You also have the party mode function that lets you connect to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers. However, it does not come with a multi-room function. You cannot use it to play other content on different speakers.

The model is able to work on the sonic profile, and the music is more opulent. The performance, in some cases, is agile, say. We would not recommend you use it at high volumes. When you switch it, you can hear a clearer & cleaner audio quality from it.

Overall, the performance of both the models is smashing, allowing you to work on them smoothly.

JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge 5: Price

The JBL Charge 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker is priced under $150. At the time of writing is priced under $115. You can make use of JBLCONNECT to improvise your listening experience.

It is produced from a rugged rubber material. That makes them highly durable, and the unit can last for several years easily. It should be able to withstand a few falls effortlessly. You would love the dual passive radiators that can offer you with phenomenal sound quality.

The JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Portable Speaker is priced under $250. At the time of writing, it is priced under $150. So, if you are looking for a powerful Bluetooth speaker, then you will find this model capable of handling all your requirements.

The model comes with a water-resistant feature and also is resistant to dirt. Now, you can take it with you where you want. The battery offers you 20 hours of playtime, providing you with sufficient playtime.

It also comes with a built-in powerbank that allows you to charge your device without taking a break.

JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge 5: Verdict

We have ended our comparison review between the JBL Charge 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker vs the JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Portable Speaker. We hope you found the post helpful and were able to make your decision.

Both the speakers come with their own capabilities and features. This makes them unique in their way. Choosing the winner from the two models was a great challenge for us. The JBL Charge 4 speaker is a good option for outdoor usage.

It comes infused with the IPX7 rating and can stay underwater for 30 minutes. You can use it near the swimming pool. Besides, the design is quite rugged, and the device is lightweight. Sadly, the sound quality is something that the maker might want to work on.

The unit is just average for audio performance. It is challenging to get low bass from it. Fortunately, the mid-range of the model is well-balanced, and you can hear the instruments and the vocals clearly.

The JBL Charge 5 speaker is an outstanding device. It comes with opulent sound quality and has an excellent audio performance. You can use it to listen to a wide range of music. The speaker is quite large and portable.

Besides, if you want, you can adjust the sound profile to your desire using the graphic EQ. the unit is suitable for outdoor use. The unit has an exquisite build quality and phenomenal battery life.

The unit has dirt and water-resistant features in it. There is no reason for you to be concerned when it is raining outdoors. However, you cannot use the unit to connect devices having the Connect+ feature.

Our winner in this comparison review between the JBL Charge 4 model vs the JBL Charge 5 speaker is the Charge 5 model. It is one of the best speakers currently sold in the market. However, when you are looking for a better outdoor device, then Charge 4 might come handy.