jbl charge 4 portable bluetooth speaker review: In a discussion about sound and speakers, one name constantly jumps out from lips and that is JBL. From tiny, small babies to jumbo sound producers, JBL has every variety of portable sound producers. If you are in search of in-between tiny and giant then JBL charge 4 portable Bluetooth speakers are for you.
Though they look exactly identical to the previous charge 3, one must feel and experience the changes. This twin sibling of charge 3 is slightly bigger in size as well as weight. So, once check it if you are thinking of throwing it in a bag pack for an outing. If you ask me, the negligible weight hardly matters if you want to make your trip memorable.
As charge 4 are ipx7 certified they are completely waterproof. So, you can carry it even in the rain or at the beach. Though this is a specialty of JBL speakers, there are many more aspects you need to know if you are thinking about JBL charge 4. What is the difference between charge 3 and charge 4? If there is no difference which one is better and why? You will get all the answers. Let's get started
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Battery
Value
Bottom Line:
Charge 4 is sturdy and durable but I was expecting that charge 4 will be better in all areas than charge 3 but after actual testing and heard experiences of many people I would suggest you go for Charge 3 that saves your few dollars as well as gives a couple of advantages. JBL charge 3 is lighter than charge 4. Sound of charge 4 is lackluster compared to charge 3. The battery is larger but that doesn't make much difference in playtime. If you ask me I will say go for a JBL charge 3
How is Design and Build Quality of Charge 4?
If you don't take a closer look you will not find any difference between charge 3 and charge 4 but there is the difference. The difference in size. JBL Charge 4 is larger in size that also adds some weight. It weighs 3.1 pounds, which is not a big deal when you want to take it for hiking. With the larger size still, it's portable. Battery capacity is increased from 6000mah to 7500 mah. This is also a noticeable difference between charge 3 and charge 4.
Charge 4 is specially made for your outdoor activities like hiking, swimming adventures. JBL used durable fabric material with the rubber housing that protects your speaker. Like charge 3 JBL charge 4 is also IPX7 certified which means you can submerge it up to 1m of water for 30 minutes.
JBL is especially known for its great waterproofing protection and charge 4 is no exception. All ports like 3.5 mm input and USB charging port is protected under a waterproof flap. All the control buttons are above the fabric that includes the power button, increase and decrease the volume button, Bluetooth, and JBL connect+ button. This time JBL broadened the color options. It is available in 10 different colors. JBL charge 4 has a compact design and sturdy construction that makes it durable. Overall I am quite satisfied with design and construction.
How is the Sound Quality of Charge 4 ?
It has dual-passive radiators and a single driver. I must say charge 3 is a lot better than charge 4 if you compare the sounds of both. I didn't understand why JBL has used a single driver instead of dual-drivers and it really made a practical difference in sound quality. There is a noticeable difference between the left side sound and the right side sound which should not be.
Weak bass and not loud enough sound are the reasons it definitely loses the battle with its predecessor JBL charge 3. highs and mids are also not so impressive. I should not forget to mention the JBL connect+ feature that allows you to connect up to 100 JBL speakers at a time. This feature you will get in low priced JBL too. If you are looking for a portable speaker for your larger size room or garage work this may disappoint you if you are an audiophile. It also doesn't have voice assistant integration and speakerphone which are another cons.
How is the Charging and Battery Performance of JBL Charge 4 ?
JBL claimed that charge 4 gives 20-hours of battery life and it's not completely wrong. Larger battery of 7500 mAh gives almost 14-16 hours of battery life with moderate volume level. With a little bit higher volume it delivered 13 hours of playtime. You can also charge your smartphone with JBL 4 via USB port. Overall not great but good battery performance.
Whatβs in the box?
- 1 x JBL Charge 4
- 1 x Type C USB cable
- 1 x Quick Start Guide
- 1 x Warranty Card
- 1 x Safety Sheet
Features:
- 3.5 mm audio cable Input: Yes
- Auto-power off: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- JBL Connect+: Yes
- Powerbank: Yes
- Speakerphone: No
- Voice Assistant integration: No
- Waterproof: Yes
Who should get the charge 4?
- It is for those who are looking for durable and waterproof portable speaker.
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