JBL Charge 4 Review

The JBL Charge 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that has a rugged exterior and plenty of battery life to power it. If you are looking for a speaker with great sound, long-lasting battery life, the ability to charge your phone wirelessly, and an IPX7 waterproof rating this might be an excellent option for you!

Verdict

The JBL Charge 4 is a great option for users looking to spend less than $200 on their bluetooth speaker. It has an impressive sound quality and notable features like an Aux input jack and a USB output to charge phones and other devices.

Our favourite feature of the Charge 4 is the excellent battery life. Thanks to its huge 7500mAh battery, the charge can last for 20 hours, meaning you can take it away for a weekend without the need for a charging cord.

It also has an IPX-rated waterproof rating that allows the speaker to withstand water from any direction up to a depth of one meter. This makes it perfect for use during outdoor activities like camping or boating trips!

It’s durable and portable enough to throw in your bag for a day of adventure without worrying about damage, all while maintaining its aesthetic appeal with sleek design details.

Comparison Table

	JBL Charge 4	UE Boom 3	JBL Flip 5
Power	30 watts	12 watts	20 watts
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes	Yes
WiFi	No	No	No
360° Sound	No	Yes	No
Water Resistance Rating	IPX7	IP67	IPX7
Battery Powered	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery size	7500mAh	–	4800mAh
Playtime	20 Hours	15 Hours	12 Hours
USB Charge Out	Yes	No	No
App	Yes	Yes	Yes
Weight	0.96 kg	0.61 kg	0.50 kg
Speakerphone	No	No	No
Voice Assistant	No	No	No
Audio Inputs	Aux	None	None

Performance

Sound Quality

Sound quality is one of the most important factors when purchasing speakers. The Charge performs well in this category as it offers clear highs with low distortion levels for a bass-heavy speaker.

To get the best sound quality you will want to use it in a room where there is plenty of space for its bass resonance and clean up your low end with some EQ adjustments on your device or software.

The Charge has a frequency response of 60 Hz – 20 kHz, which means the speaker should be able to produce a wide range of sound frequencies.

Even though the Charge has good bass, it can sometimes overpower vocals and mids for some songs which might make them difficult to hear.

The speakers have 360 degree sound, which means you get the same volume and fidelity of sound no matter where you are in relation to them.

Volume

The charge 4 packs a punch thanks to its 30 watt power output. If volume and bass are your main concerns when shopping around for portable speakers then we would recommend the JBL Charge over its competition.

User reviews of the Charge 4 state the volume levels are loud and clear. The Charge has a max volume of 82 decibels, which is quite high for such a small speaker.

Connectivity

The Charge 4 connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, but it also includes an Aux jack, a feature not so common on portable speakers. This can come in handy if your Bluetooth connection is spotty or you want to connect to any audio equipment.

A fairly unique feature of this speaker is the USB charge out, meaning you can charge your phone or another device while listening to your music. This is a great feature for those who are constantly on the go and means the Charge 4 can act as a substitute for a power bank.

Battery

Battery life is approximately 20 hours on one charge, which is one of the highest runtimes in this category. The battery size of 7500mAh is larger than most of its competitors and should be enough to get you through a day or two of frequent listening.

Durability

The Charge 4 is well built and has a rugged construction designed to take knocks. It also has a waterproof rating of IPX7, meaning it can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes.

Alternatives

UE Boom 3

Probably the most popular Bluetooth speaker on the market, the UE Boom 3 is a close competitor to the Charge 4. It has a similar waterproof rating and also offers 360-degree sound.

However, the Charge 4 has a significantly longer battery life and the ability to charge your phone, which might make it more attractive for some.

In terms of sound quality and volume, the Charge is in a similar vein to the Boom, but as we’ve mentioned before it has some extra features that give it an edge.

JBL Flip 5

RELATED: JBL Flip 5 Review

The JBL Flip 5 weighs in at about half the weight of the Charge, and has a significantly shorter battery life.

However, it does have some extra features that make it worth considering such as the ability to connect two devices at once and an LED indicator on top for when your device is connected.

The Flip 5 does, however, lack the Aux input, and at only 20 watts of power doesn’t match up in terms of volume.

Both of these speakers are excellent options with pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for in a bluetooth speaker.

JBL Charge 4 FAQ

What are the buttons on the JBL charge 4?

The top of the JBL Charge is where you’ll find a power button, which also doubles as an indicator light for battery life. Below that will be volume control buttons and below those is a Bluetooth connect/pairing button. On one side are play and pause buttons while on the other are previous track and next track controls.

How do you know when JBL Charge 4 is fully charged?

Once the JBL Charge is fully charged, a steady blue light will appear on top of it.

The colors are as follows: Red means less than 20% charge remaining and need to recharge soon; Green means more than 60% but less than 100%; Blue indicates your speaker has enough power to last for up to 18 hours.

Is the charge 4 water proof?

The Charge 4has a rating of IPX7 which means it can survive immersion in water of up to one meter for 30 minutes.

Review Summary