JBL Charge 5 WiFi and Bluetooth Speaker

Pros

• Rich, balanced, and spacious sound quality.
• Limited distortion at high volumes.
• Comprehensive and intuitive controls.
• Sturdy construction with IP67 certification.

Cons

• Slight lack of precision in the bass.
• Disappointing battery life.
• Not compatible with PartyBoost mode.
• No wired audio connectivity.

The Charge 5 Wi-Fi is a variation of the Charge 5 with added Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to Bluetooth. Besides this enhanced connectivity, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi hardly differs from its Bluetooth counterpart.

Undoubtedly leading the market in Bluetooth portable speakers, JBL had somewhat neglected the Wi-Fi speaker sector since releasing the Link Portable in 2019. With Wi-Fi speakers becoming more fashionable, the American manufacturer revisits the concept by introducing the Wi-Fi version of its excellent Bluetooth speaker: the Charge 5 Wi-Fi.

As its name suggests, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi stands out for its Wi-Fi connectivity and compatibility with many communication protocols. Microphones have also been integrated to adjust the sound quality based on its placement in a room. Its design, sturdy construction, and the promised 20-hour battery life remain unchanged.

This review will focus solely on the differences between the Charge 5 Wi-Fi and the Charge 5. We recommend reading the Charge 5 review for more detailed information.

The Charge 5 Wi-Fi is nearly identical to its Bluetooth sibling. Its size is slightly different: 22.3 x 9.7 x 9.4 cm and 1 kg for the Charge 5 Wi-Fi, compared to 22 x 9.6 x 9.3 cm and 960 g for the Charge 5. Aesthetic differences are minimal: only the front logo is darker and surrounded by a gold trim, matching the logos on each side's passive radiators. Otherwise, they're virtually identical.

 Controls

There are also very few changes regarding the physical controls on the speaker. However, there's a new heart-shaped button in place of the Charge 5's PartyBoost button. This new button initiates a “Moment”, a sort of preset where one can set up a streaming platform (from a limited list), a predefined volume, and a sleep timer.

Speaking of the PartyBoost function, it's not available on this Charge 5 Wi-Fi. Hence, you can't pair multiple speakers together, which is possible with other JBL speakers. However, you can still pair two Charge 5 Wi-Fis for a stereo setup.

Another significant change: the play buttonow allows users to skip back to the previous track with a triple press! A real game-changer for a JBL speaker! It's also worth noting that the speaker integrates seamlessly with ecosystems managed by Google Assistant or Alexa.

Connectivity

 The Charge 5 Wi-Fi really distinguishes itself from the Charge 5 in its connectivity features. Bluetooth is still available, now in version 5.3, along with a multipoint feature allowing pairing with two devices simultaneously. As the name suggests, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi has Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with a range of protocols like AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Alexa MRM, and Spotify Coect. This allows streaming from any platform whilst benefiting from a Wi-Fi coection.

We encountered some connectivity issues when switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but otherwise, the speaker was stable. As for latency, we measured it at 242 ms for Bluetooth and approximately 1.5 seconds for Wi-Fi.

Applicatio

Unlike the Charge 5 and all other JBL Bluetooth speakers that pair with the JBL Portable app, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi works with the JBL One app, managing the manufacturer's Wi-Fi speakers. Available on iOS and Android, this app is stable and provides settings and information about the speaker, such as a music player, remaining battery level, and a simplified equaliser, among others.

The Charge 5 Wi-Fi has the same acoustic architecture as its Bluetooth sibling, featuring an oblong mid/bass speaker, a 2 cm tweeter, and two side passive radiators. So it's no surprise that the speaker provides almost the same listening experience as its counterpart. That's why, once again, we recommend checking the Charge 5 review for more details.

What sets this Charge 5 Wi-Fi apart from the Charge 5 is the inclusion of microphones that allow real-time sound adjustments based on the speaker's room position. These adjustments are subtle; there might be a slight change in bass treatment, especially when placed in a corner, but it doesn't fundamentally alter the speaker's sound signature.

Despite a significant increase in battery capacity compared to the Charge 5 (14,100 mAh vs. 7,500 mAh) and a promised 20-hour battery life, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi lasts 12 hours at 50% volume (equivalent to a sound level of 79 dB SPL at 1 m, our standard measure).

The Charge 5 Wi-Fi therefore underperforms compared to its Charge 5 counterpart, which we found to last 16 hours at 50% volume, and is also below the current market average (around 15 hours). However, this volume level is quite generous and is more than adequate for filling a spacious room or for outdoor use. By lowering the volume to 30%, we measured a battery life of 20 hours. Moreover, it's worth noting that the speaker takes a lengthy 6 hours to fully charge!

The Charge 5 Wi-Fi follows in the footsteps of the Charge 5, which is a good thing. We continue to appreciate its musicality, robust construction, and ease of use. This version does gain in versatility with the inclusion of Wi-Fi connectivity, expanding possibilities. However, this enhanced connectivity comes at a cost: a reduced battery life compared to the Charge 5.