JBL Charge 4 Review: A Stellar Waterproof Speaker

Last updated on 2022-09-19
By Yvonne

JBL Charge 4 Review: Stellar Waterproof Speaker. We tested the JBL Charge 4 flagship Bluetooth speaker. The versatile and waterproof speaker sounds amazing, can be used almost anywhere.

JBL Charge 4

We like this

Powerful, clear sound
High durability
Battery life is long
Other devices can be charged
Waterproof

The Things We Hate

Mounting to the wall is impossible

The JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth Speaker is waterproof and versatile. It has great sound quality and a lot of power.

This article explains.

Expand

Design
Installation
Audio Quality
Prices
Concurrence
Final Verdict
Specifications

The JBL Charge 4 was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

Right out of the box, JBL Charge 4 feels and looks like a premium device. After just a few minutes, the JBL Charge 4 makes a good first impression. The Bluetooth speaker can do what other speakers cannot, be it putting music in the shower or throwing a party at the beach.

We found it to be highly durable and useful for more than just music—it produces great sound, has a battery that will last all day, and can be networked with multiple other JBL devices. It is also less expensive than you might expect given the level of quality.

Great design for the beach

Both the form factor and the materials of this speaker convey a feeling of portability, ruggedness, and high performance—and it delivers on all three. This speaker will withstand the elements and heavy use, as well as last for many hours.

It has a tough fabric skin on its surface that protects it from the weather and makes it fairly resistant to damages. In our testing, it survived a fall or two off a table, but we didn't want to push it farther than that — it weighs about two pounds and hit the ground with a thwack that made us think it would stop working. It continued to work, apparently unaffected.

You get a better quality product for a lower price than you might expect.

The speaker can be controlled by the device or from its control panel. You can also skip tracks and adjust the volume. The speaker's control panel doesn't allow you to skip to an already-played track.

JBL says the Charge 4 has a 20-hour battery life. This is impressive compared with similar products. This speaker was taken on a trip to the coast and played continuously throughout the day.

One feature that the JBL Charge 4 has is its battery meter. It is a useful feature not found on other speakers is it. The battery meter not only shows you how much juice is left but also lets you know when it's charging.

Our test unit took approximately four hours for it to charge fully from dead. This is about 90 minutes quicker than JBL claims on its materials. This is still a long charging time for the Charge 4, but it should be acceptable considering its battery capacity. It doesn't matter if it is charged overnight.

This charging cable uses the new USB-C technology, so you can easily tell that it is next-generation. Male-to-male charger cable features a USB connector on the speaker and a USB connection to connect to the power source.

The charging bank was also very useful. You can charge your smartphone and other devices using the USB port on the speaker's back panel. It was perfect for us when we went to the beach, as it let us extend our time on the waves and not have to worry about our phones dying.

This speaker is built to withstand the elements and heavy use, so it will last for many years.

You can connect more Charge 4s together with the JBL Connect mobile application. Although similar speakers such as the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom and Polk BOOM Swimmer duo offer the same capabilities, only JBL's app can connect more than 100 devices. We don't know when, but we do have the app that can connect more than 100 devices.

JBL offers a few additional apps to complement your speaker, in addition to Connect. JBL Music is available for download, as well as JBL Tools. You have much greater control over your music and your speakers' performance with these apps. These apps can be a great tool for creating a cohesive, brand-focused experience.

The Charge 4 speaker is very lightweight, but it weighs more than the Swimmer Duo. The Charge 4 takes up space in a bag and is not easy to carry around.

The same applies to indoor use—if you intend to take advantage of the waterproof capabilities and use it as a shower speaker, note that there's no suction cup to attach it to the wall, and it's sure to take up some valuable real estate on your shower shelves.

A speakerphone is another feature that this device does not have. Similar speakers let you make calls using your phone's built-in microphone. This is a convenient feature, but it's not surprising that the Charge 4 doesn't have it since it's not really designed for up-close-and-personal use.

Due to the fact that they have side-mounted speakers, it doesn't look waterproof. But as part of our testing, we let some ocean surf wash over it and the speaker was fine—the music kept playing, and it was no worse for the wear after we dried it off.

Related Reading: Polk Boom Swimmer Duo Review: A Rugged Little Speaker

Installation: In a matter of minutes

Because of its small size, the JBL Charge 4 setup is very simple. It is easy to use the buttons, which are big and clear. This speaker can be set up in under a minute even without the need to read through all of its instructions.

This speaker can be set up in under a minute even if you don't read the instruction manual.

Pairing the Bluetooth speaker is the hardest part of Bluetooth device setup if you are new to it. The Quick Start Guide provides clear instructions and a step-by-step guide.

Sound Quality: Excellent sound wherever you need it

We could hear the music clearly over the noise of the ocean waves when we brought the speaker along to the beach.

Each song that we played was as great as possible. All the small details—horns, vocals, hi-hats—came through clearly and true to the recording. Even if the sound quality doesn't seem perfect, it is very close.

Prices: A good form of sticker shock

You can purchase the JBL Charge 4 for just $149.99 We were shocked that it didn't cost more than $200 when we tried it. This is for power, performance, and utility. This device, even at retail price is great value in our opinion.

If $150 seems too steep for you, this speaker can be purchased at a number of online stores starting from $120.

JBL Charge 4 Competition vs. Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM

We tested the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM and it was just slightly cheaper at $99.99.

This is where the biggest differences between them are. While the Charge 4 is horizontal and sends sound out of the front, the WONDERBOOM sits vertically. The Charge 4 produces sound 360 degrees, while WONDERBOOM has a more sphere-shaped sound and makes sound from all angles. This makes the WONDERBOOM more party-oriented than the Charge 4.

Both speakers produce the same sound quality, but the WONDERBOOM Bass is slightly more powerful at maximum volume.

The Bluetooth speaker delivers on every aspect. The speaker produces a sound that is pleasing to audiophiles and can charge your devices via USB. It also has an all-day battery. It is a great deal for its price.