JBL Charge 5
(71 reviews)
A sure bet among JBL's portable speakers: 40W of powerful sound, IP67 waterproofing, 20 hours of battery life and a power bank function to charge your phone.
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Characteristics
- Sound power: 40 W (driver + tweeter, 2 passive radiators)
- Battery life: 20 h (7500 mAh battery)
- Functions: Speaker, USB-A power bank (10 W), IP67 waterproof
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, PartyBoost
- 40W sound, IP67, 20h and USB phone charging
Detailed overview: JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker
The JBL Charge 5 has established itself as a benchmark portable Bluetooth speaker, and that is no accident. In a compact, rugged body it brings together everything you expect from an outdoor speaker: power, battery life, real resistance to the elements and a built-in power bank that turns it into a multi-purpose device.
On the sound side, the Charge 5 delivers 40W in total, split between an oval racetrack mid-woofer and a dedicated tweeter for the highs. The result is a clear, balanced output, with deep bass served by two side-firing passive radiators. Frequency response runs from 60 Hz to 20 kHz, enough to fill a terrace, a beach or a room with ease.
Its large 7500 mAh Lithium-ion battery (27 Wh) provides up to 20 hours of playback and recharges in about 4 hours over USB-C. That battery also powers the power bank feature: a 10 W USB-A port (5 V / 2 A) lets you charge a smartphone or a small accessory, a real asset when travelling, camping or at a festival.
The Charge 5 is IP67 rated: fully waterproof (submersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes) and dust-protected, it fears neither rain, sand nor splashes. Bluetooth 5.1 provides a stable connection, and PartyBoost technology lets you pair several compatible JBL speakers to amplify the sound at a party.
Rugged, long-lasting and versatile, it weighs 980 g for dimensions of 22.3 x 9.7 x 9.4 cm. Its only limits: no wired auxiliary input and no built-in microphone. Everything else makes the Charge 5 a safe choice in portable sound.
Full specifications
Detailed characteristics (EAN: 6925281988158)
Battery
| Rated capacity?Cell capacity in milliamp-hours, as stated by the manufacturer. | 7500 mAh |
|---|---|
| Actual energy?Actual stored energy in watt-hours; what matters for runtime and air travel (100 Wh cabin limit). | 27 Wh |
| Battery chemistry?Cell type; LFP lasts longer, Li-ion/LiPo is lighter. | Li-ion |
Output (device charging)
| Max output power?Maximum total power delivered; above 60 W it can charge a laptop. | 10 W |
|---|---|
| USB-A ports?Number of USB-A ports and maximum power. | 1 × 10 W |
| Wireless charging (Qi)?Inductive charging of a phone placed on top, and its power. | No |
| Magnetic attachment (MagSafe)?Attaches magnetically to the back of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone. | No |
Recharging the power bank
| Recharge power (input)?Maximum input power to recharge the power bank; higher means faster. | 15 W |
|---|---|
| Recharge time 0-100%?Time to fully recharge the power bank. | 240 min |
Cable and interface
| Built-in cable?A cable is permanently attached to the power bank (nothing extra to carry). | No |
|---|---|
| Retractable cable?The built-in cable retracts into the housing. | No |
| Cable included?A cable is included in the box. | Yes |
| Display?Level display: simple LED indicators or a digital screen (%, watts). | LED indicators |
| LED light?Built-in LED torch / light. | No |
Form factor
| Weight?Weight of the power bank, in grams. | 980 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (L × W × D)?Length × width × depth, in millimetres. | 223 × 97 × 94 mm |
Availability and warranty
| Market launch?Date the model first became available on the European market. Useful to place its generation: technology moves fast in this segment, and a device several years old may be at the end of its commercial life. | April 2021 |
|---|
User manual / Instructions for use (PDF)
⚡ How many charges with this power bank?
With 27 Wh of capacity, the JBL Charge 5 power bank recharges iPhone 16 ~1.4 times or Samsung Galaxy S25 ~1.3 times.
| Smartphone | Charges |
|---|---|
| iPhone 12 | ~1.8 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 | ~1.3 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | ~1 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | ~0.9 |
| Tablet / console | Charges |
|---|---|
| Retroid Pocket 5 | ~1 |
| Steam Frame | ~0.9 |
| iPad Air (M3) | ~0.7 |
| Steam Deck | ~0.5 |
Rough estimate: real-world losses (conversion, cable, heat) are around 25 to 35%.
Related video
Video: JBL Charge 5 Review - A Sound Upgrade - Published on 23/04/2021
Our tester's review: Guillaume Hoarau
We took the Charge 5 everywhere, and that is exactly what it is built for. On a terrace or by the pool, the sound really carries: the 40W fill a garden without distorting, with bass that is genuinely present for a speaker this size. The IP67 rating reassured us more than once, between a surprise shower while camping and splashes at the water's edge, it takes it all in stride. Battery life lives up to the claim: on a full day out we never had to recharge it, and the 20 hours are realistic at a reasonable volume. The little extra that places it among multi-function devices is the USB-A port that rescues a dead smartphone, very handy on a hike or at a festival. Two honest downsides: there is no aux input and no microphone for calls, and at full volume the battery drains a bit faster. But for generous sound, a rugged build and real portable versatility, the Charge 5 remains a safe bet.
Frequently asked questions: JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker
Yes. Thanks to its 7500 mAh battery, it works as a power bank: a USB-A port lets you charge a smartphone or a small device while playing music, or even with the speaker turned off.
Up to 20 hours of playback at a moderate volume. A full recharge takes about 4 hours over USB-C. At full volume the battery drains faster, but it easily lasts a full day.
Yes, it is IP67 rated: fully waterproof to submersion (up to 1 m for 30 minutes) and dust-protected. It handles rain, sand and splashes at the water's edge with no trouble.
Yes, through the PartyBoost feature of Bluetooth 5.1. You can pair several PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers to play the same music and get more powerful sound at a party.
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