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    HomeGadgetsMedia GadgetsJBL Charge 5 - Portable Waterproof Speaker with Built-In Powerbank

    JBL Charge 5 – Portable Waterproof Speaker with Built-In Powerbank

    This one is a must-have for any music lovers out there. If you’re someone who enjoys listening to music during most days of the week, then one of the best gadgets that you can get for yourself is a portable Bluetooth speaker. Now, as we all know, there are many decent brands of Bluetooth speakers to choose from nowadays. However, not all of them combine portability with multiple quality of life functionalities such as USB-C output charging for your devices or even Dual Pairing via Bluetooth Connectivity for an even better sound quality. With that said, if you’re looking for a truly versatile portable Bluetooth speaker that has each and every single functionality you’d expect to have on a next-gen 21st-century speaker, then the JBL Charge 5 is exactly what you’ve been hoping to find.

    The JBL Charge 5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that features an awesome sound quality powered by JBL’s Original Pro Sound technology, built-in controls, a IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof Rating, Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity, PartyBoost TWS Dual Pairing, and a long-lasting battery that can offer you up to 20 hours of battery life while also doubling as a built-in powerbank to conveniently charge all of your devices.

    Integrating an optimized long excursion driver sound system that’s composed by a 20mm 10W Tweeter and a powerful 52mm x 90mm 30W Woofer that’s powered by dual pumping JBL bass radiators, this portable Bluetooth speaker allows you to easily and quickly start small to medium-sized parties whenever and wherever you want, no matter if that’s indoors or outdoors.

    Now, let’s have a more detailed look at the JBL Charge 5 and check out everything that this portable Bluetooth speaker has to offer you.

    DESIGN & SPECS

    Starting with the speaker’s size, the JBL Charge 5 comes at a fairly compact size, measuring just 8.7 inches long by 3.76 inches wide by 3.67 inches tall (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm), and the speaker is also quite lightweight, as it weighs just 2.11 lbs. (0.96 kg).

    The speaker’s compact size and ultra-light weight makes it super easy for you to pack it inside a bag or backpack and bring it along with you wherever you’re planning on going next.

    JBL Charge 5
    JBL Charge 5

    In addition, this portable Bluetooth speaker also features a simple and stylish design that not only gives it a minimalist and ultra-modern look, but also makes it easy-to-use and configure for any music lover, regardless of their style, age, or even how tech-savvy they are.

    JBL Charge 5
    Simple, Minimalist & Stylish Design

    This simple and intuitive design is also combined with an ultra-durable weather-proof construction, as the JBL Charge 5 features a IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof Rating that makes it capable of withstanding any type of outdoors environment.

    Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
    Weatherproof Construction & IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof Rating

    Thanks to that, you can bring it with you by the pool-side, to a camping adventure, or anything else in between.

    Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
    Anti-Slip Rubberized Base

    Last but not least, the Charge 5 also boasts an Anti-Slip Rubberized Base that ensures the speaker always stay put, even when placed on top of semi-wet surfaces, such as placing it on top of a rock outdoors under rainy conditions (excluding fully-drenched surfaces like a pool-side with slippery flooring when wet).

    AUDIO SPECS & AUDIO QUALITY

    Moving on to the speaker’s audio specifications. As said before, this portable Bluetooth speaker comes equipped with an optimized long excursion driver sound system that’s composed by a 20mm Tweeter and a powerful 52mm x 90mm 30W Woofer that’s powered by dual pumping JBL bass radiators.

    JBL Charge 5
    Optimized Long Excursion Driver Sound System – 20mm Tweeter + 52mm x 90mm 30W Woofer

    All of the components from the JBL Charge 5’s optimized long excursion driver sound system are powered by JBL’s Original Pro Sound technology, which ultimately makes this portable Bluetooth speaker capable of delivering an impressively rich and clear audio.

    In other words, this speaker is completely capable of reproducing a crystal-clear treble (high-frequency sounds), super-clean mids (mid-frequencies) – especially for vocals – and also a very powerful, “punchy”, and extremely enjoyable bass (low-frequency sounds) that can be easily noticed.

    On a side note, it’s also worth mentioning that the speaker’s internal sound system features a combined Output Power of 40W – 10W RMS for its Tweeter and 30W RMS for its Woofer – while also boasting a Dynamic Frequency Response Range that varies between 60Hz and 20kHz, and a Maximum Signal-to-noise Ratio of slightly above 80 decibels.

    INTERFACE / CONTROL PANEL

    Once again, we’d like to point out that this portable Bluetooth speaker features a simple and stylish design that makes it easy-to-use and configure. With that said, note that the speaker’s interface consists of a simplified set of built-in controls that come organized in an horizontal layout right at the top-side of the speaker.

    JBL Charge 5
    Top-Side Horizontal-Layout Interface

    So, going from left to right, we have a Dual Pairing Button (for the speaker’s PartyBoost TWS Dual Pairing function), a Volume Decrease Button (doubles as a Skip to Previous Song Button), followed by a Power On/Off Button and a Bluetooth Pairing Button (both side-by-side at the center of the speaker’s interface), which are then followed by a Volume Increase Button (doubles as a Skip to Next Song Button), and finally, a Play/Pause Button.

    JBL Charge 5
    Top-Side Horizontal-Layout Interface

    CONNECTIVITY

    Now, since this is a next-gen portable Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Charge 5 boasts Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity, with support to  A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 Bluetooth Profiles (working within a Bluetooth frequency of 2400 MHz and 2483.5 MHz and at  ≤ 20 dBm (EIRP) of Bluetooth Transmitter Power).

    Via the speaker’s Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity, users can connect up to two (x2) devices (either smartphones or tablets) at a time to their JBL Charge 5 speaker to wirelessly stream their music, with both devices ultimately being able to take turns of controlling the speaker’s Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity.

    Not only that, but thanks to the speaker’s PartyBoost TWS Dual Pairing function, users are also able to pair the speaker together with any other JBL speaker that’s also PartyBoost-compatible. This ultimately allows users to achieve an even more powerful sound (than when using the JBL Charge 5 by itself) in order to achieve an even louder and more immersive sound quality.

    BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE

    Finally, for its power, the JBL Charge 5 utilizes a built-in Lithium-Ion Polymer 27 Wh battery (equivalent to 3.6 V / 7500 mAh Lithium-Ion battery) that’s capable of providing users with an incredible 20 hours of battery life, which basically makes this speaker powerful enough to stay powered up for almost an entire day, ultimately allowing you to party all day long.

    For re-charging the speaker’s battery whenever you find it running low on power, there’s a built-in USB-C Input Charging port at the back-side of the speaker, which you can simply connect to its included USB-C Charging Cable to have the speaker’s battery recharging back to a full charge.

    JBL Charge 5
    USB-C Input & USB-Output Charging Ports

    Note that it takes around 4 hours for the speaker’s battery to go from 0% power back to a full-charge (100% power).

    Not only that, but there’s also a second USB-C Output Charging port that comes neatly protected under a rubberized sleeve, which basically allows the speaker’s internal Lithium-Ion Polymer 27 Wh battery to double as a dedicated built-in powerbank.

    JBL Charge 5
    USB-C Output Charging Port for charging external USB-C-enabled devices (Smartphones / tablets)

    Thanks to that, users can conveniently charge all of their devices’ battery levels by simply connecting the speaker’s USB-C Output Charging port to its included USB-C Charging Cable.

    WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

    Inside each package, users will find: their JBL Charge 5, the speaker’s included USB-C Charging Cable, along with a Quick-Start Guide, a Safety Sheet, and also a Warranty Card.

    JBL Charge 5
    Box Contents

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    The JBL Charge 5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that features an awesome sound quality powered by JBL’s Original Pro Sound technology, built-in controls, a IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof Rating, Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity, PartyBoost TWS Dual Pairing, and a long-lasting battery that can offer you up to 20 hours of battery life while also doubling as a built-in powerbank to conveniently charge all of your devices.

    Integrating an optimized long excursion driver sound system that’s composed by a 20mm 10W Tweeter and a powerful 52mm x 90mm 30W Woofer that’s powered by dual pumping JBL bass radiators, this portable Bluetooth speaker allows you to easily and quickly start small to medium-sized parties whenever and wherever you want, no matter if that’s indoors or outdoors.

    JBL Charge 5
    JBL Charge 5

    All in all, this portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker is the perfect gadget for any music lover out there, no matter if you’re more into chilling indoors, or if you prefer to enjoy the fresh-air outdoors while listening to your favorite tunes.

    It’s also worth mentioning that the JBL Charge 5 is currently available in six (x6) different all-new color models that are all differently inspired by the latest street fashion trends, including: Bright-Red, Medium-Grey, Navy-Blue, Teal-Blue, Squad Army Green Camo, and Flat Black.

    If you’re interested in getting it, each unit is priced at $179.95. You can order yours online right now, directly from JBL’s official shopping page.

    João Matos
    João Matos
    Soon after getting his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, João Matos joined the GadgetGram team on May 2019. Since then, he has been working as the Content Director, with the main goal of publishing thorough reviews on all sorts of newly released tech-products. In addition, João has also been been working as a senior news writer and news editor at Gadget Gram, as well as the Director of Social Media.

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