JBL Charge 5

Balanced, clear sound over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ; Tough, rugged design ; Can be used to charge other devices ; Solid battery life

More expensive than before ; No PartyBoost feature ; No fast charging

The JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi is another excellent-sounding wireless speaker from JBL, boasting an even more refined performance, especially over a Wi-Fi connection. It is considerably more expensive than its predecessor and close rivals, and though the...

Big, spacious and powerful sound ; Rugged design ; Can be used as a powerbank ; App support

Heavy ; Treble performance could be better

A fun portable speaker that’s one of the best-sounding efforts in its price bracket. With its tough design, good battery life and powerful sound, the JBL Charge 5 presents itself as a great option for indoor use and outdoors.

Solid build quality

Can't stereo pair with non-Charge 5 JBL speakers

“Everyone will hear the JBL Charge 5 once you start cranking it up.”

Clearer and more detailed sound ; Wider soundstage ; Updated dustproofing

Nothing at this level

JBL’s Charge 5 hails from a victorious and dominant product line, and the winning trend does not stop here

Confident, well-organised sound ; Typically solid, durable build ; Sounds even better via wi-fi

Price premium over the standard version ; No PartyBoost for other JBL speakers

The addition of wi-fi to an already superb Bluetooth speaker gives the Charge 5 Wi-Fi a new dimension, even if that inflated price tag could be a dealbreaker for some

Balanced sound quality ; Gets extremely loud ; Long battery life

Long charge time ; Distortion at high volume ; No more aux jack

The JBL Charge 5 is an iteration on a winning formula. The Charge series of speakers is known for balanced sound, high volume, and long battery life, and that hasn’t changed in this fifth generation. However, the Charge 5 improves on just about every...

Loud, powerful sound ; 20-hour battery life ; Can be used to charge your phone

No EQ settings in the app ; You can’t use PartyBoost with Connect+ speakers ; No 3.5mm audio port

For those who want a loud, durable speaker to use on days out at the park or beach, the JBL Charge 5 is an excellent choice. The audio is powerful and accurate, and it has improved dust resistance as well as a waterproof design. What’s not to love!

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'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.

Poignant and bassy sound for this size of unit ; Fully waterproof and dust-sealed ; Decent battery life

Can't deliver below 65Hz ; Design quite boisterous ; No 3.5mm input this time ; Slow recharging

This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers astounding audio considering its relatively diminutive scale. Our main criticism is its somewhat boisterous looks and the long four-hours recharge time. Otherwise this blasts out the bass, all while being rugged...

Dustproof and waterproof ; Gets incredibly loud without distortion ; Solid battery life ; Easy-to-use controls

Expensive for its size ; No speakerphone ; No AUX input

The JBL Charge 5 is a premium speaker that sounds great, has remarkably well designed controls, and boasts an iconic design.