Largely speaking JBL’s Charge 5 speaker is not vastly different from the Charge 4. It comes with many of the same great features as the currently available model. JBL does note though that the Charge 5 does have improved audio capabilities. So that may be referencing overall better sound quality than before. It’s also slightly different looking, with the overall design being mostly identical to the Charge 4.
JBL’s Charge 5 speaker offers 20 hours of playback
Like the Charge 4, the Charge 5 offers 20 hours of playback time on a single charge. But to be clear, this is up to 20 hours of playback time as this may fluctuate based on features you use. The Charge 5 can double as a power bank for example. Which means you can plug your phone or other mobile devices into it to charge them up. You can do this while you stream music to the speaker as well. And all of that power-draining comes from the same internal battery. So if you stream to the Charge 5 while you charge up a phone, you’re going to use up more of the speaker’s battery life and likely won’t get 20 hours of playback. Adjusting the volume and bass and other audio features may also decrease the 20 hours battery life. So that’s something to keep in mind.
Improved audio through PartyBoost and updated hardware
With the Charge 5, JBL also updated the speaker’s hardware. It’s now utilizing a racetrack-shaped driver and a separate tweeter alongside dual passive JBL bass radiators. JBL says this helps gives the speaker “impressive audio clarity and deep bass.” It’s also IP67 dustproof and waterproof, and it comes with new silicone bumpers. All of these design elements should work together to provide users with a durable speaker that is just as good at standing up to life’s little mishaps as it is at pumping out some decent sound. Whether it’s for listening to music or you just want a better audio experience for the video you may be watching on your device. JBL plans to launch the Charge 5 speaker early this Spring. Specifically in April. When it launches it will retail for $179.99, which is the price of the currently available Charge 4 if you buy directly from JBL’s website. The Charge 5 will come in multiple colors, including Black, Blue, Gray, Red, Teal, and Squad.
