The JBL Charge 5 is a great choice if you’re after a rugged Bluetooth speaker capable of outputting serious sound both in and outdoors

Impactful sound; Solid battery life; Now dustproof as well as waterproof;

No AUX-in or microphone; Lacks EQ options;

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

Clearer and more detailed sound, Wider soundstage, Updated dustproofing

Nothing at this level

If you want a powerful speaker that doubles as a power bank and can handle getting wet, this is it

Durable, high-quality, IP67-rated water-resistant build, Sleek aesthetic despite ruggedization, Premium materials for a great in-hand feel, 20 or more hours of battery is easily within reach, USB-A port for reverse wired charging at 10W, Multi-speaker pairing via PartyBoost, Powerful bass down to...

Bluetooth-only, No voice assistant access, 65Hz to 20kHz instead of 20Hz to 20kHz frequencies supported

Today in our JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker review, we’re going to focus on JBL’s newest speaker – The Charge 5. It’s designed for people who want a rugged, no-nonsense Bluetooth speaker that’s portable and convenient.

If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth party speaker that will last all day and then some, is waterproof, has big sound, and isn’t unwieldy to carry around, the JBL Charge 5 may be the one for you.

Compact, water/dustproof design, Big sound, Easy to use, Can pair with other JBL speakers for bigger sound, All day battery life, Power bank feature

A bit on the pricey side, Software app is pretty basic, No equalizer option in software

JBL Charge 5 plays loud and powerful, and is the one you want to take with you on a ride.

Powerful sound, good battery life, several can be connected.

Slightly sharp treble, no sound settings in the app.

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!

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

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.

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 launched a bunch of products at CES this year, but few looked to be as promising as the Charge 5. Part rugged Bluetooth speaker, part power bank, the newest entry in the Charge series has much to offer, but it’s a lot more spendy than your average Bluetooth speaker.

Battery life Easily lasts two weeks with daily use., Design and materials Looks and feels like a football, in the best way possible., Sound From music to podcasts, it's a fantastic listening experience., Portability It's hefty but not too large to be thrown into a backpack for a day trip.

No wired input The Charge 5 loses its 3.5mm jack from the last-gen model., PartyBoost JBL's third revision of its stereo sync feature means the Charge 4 and Charge 5 speakers are incompatible., Connection issues Some cutouts that required restarting the speaker to fix.

This summer is going to be full of trips to the beach and backyard parties, and you'll need just the right speaker to DJ these events. The JBL Charge 5 is the newest release in its waterproof speaker product line, and it does a fantastic job of producing clear and loud sound.

Sound quality, IP67 rating, Bluetooth multipoint, Can charge your mobile devices

No microphone, Bulky, No wired listening