

It’s modest in scope, with bass, mids, and treble available, each with five levels you can slide and adjust.
#JBL CHARGE 2 BATTERY INDICATOR PORTABLE#
The JBL Portable app (formerly the Connect app) for iOS or Android offers limited features, but a key one that wasn’t there when the Charge 5 first launched is three-band EQ. Pairing with two devices simply lets you switch from one to the other when you want to hear what they’re playing. There’s no microphone, which means you also only hear what your voice assistant says and still have to speak into your phone to issue commands. It can also pair with two devices at one time, but is no help with calls because it isn’t a speakerphone. That shift does help stabilize the connection, and plays a key role in why audio doesn’t stutter as you move further away from the speaker. The Charge 4 ran on Bluetooth 4.2, while the Charge 5 uses 5.1.

#JBL CHARGE 2 BATTERY INDICATOR UPGRADE#
It was easy to pair the Charge 5 from the start, and I did notice an upgrade in connectivity. Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends Setup and configuration It doesn’t have a handle or any indents to make it easier to carry around, but it is the kind of speaker you could take with you on a trip or from one room to another with relative ease.

You could throw it in a bag and take it along for a ride, but it’s definitely not something you’ll want to carry around for a prolonged period. Its overall size makes it a little too big to be highly portable. That includes saltwater and sand, so this speaker fits in as well at the beach as it does around a pool or tub. Rather than maintain the previous IPX7 rating for water resistance, JBL added good dust resistance for an excellent IP67 rating instead. The weight and dimensions are negligibly different compared to the Charge 4, except the 5 is more ruggedized. The button layout at the top stays the same, while the back features the USB-C charging port, along with a USB-A port you can use to charge other devices, basically turning the speaker into a power bank. The tightly woven fabric still looks and feels great, while the bumpers on each side protect the passive radiators.
