JBL debuts new Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker for $180

    
    JBL
    

    This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.
    

    JBL has a new Charge Bluetooth speaker for 2021 — the Charge 5 — that the company says offers improved audio and an elevated dustproof and waterproof design. The wireless speaker, which features a built-in USB charging port for juicing up your mobile devices, is set to ship in April for $180 (￡160) in six color options: black, blue, gray, red, teal and “squad” (which looks like a kind of camo).?
    According to JBL, the speaker comes with a “racetrack-shaped driver,” with a separate tweeter and dual passive radiators, which help improve both clarity and bass performance over the Charge 4. Battery life is rated at 20 hours at moderate volume levels and you can charge a device while your music is playing, though that will cut into the battery life of the speaker. This model also equipped with JBL’s PartyBoost feature that allows you to connect it to other compatible JBL portable speakers to augment their sound.
    Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2021
    If the past is any indication, this iteration of the Charge will sound fuller than JBL’s more compact and less expensive Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker, which is currently available for $100. The significantly larger JBL Extreme 3 ($350) is the step-up model from the Charge 5.
    I won’t be able to tell you how much better the Charge 5 sounds than the Charge 4 or Flip 5 until I get my hands on a review sample. On the surface anyway, the Charge 4 has similar specs, with 20 hours of battery life and an IPX7 water-resistance rating. However, it doesn’t offer the same dustproof rating (the second number in the IP rating refers to the dustproof rating) and presumably has different drivers.