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JBL Charge 5 review: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 However, JBL’s Boombox 2, Xtreme 3, Pulse 4 and Flip 5 all support PartyBoost so you have a reasonable number of options if you’re looking to make the most of the feature. Sadly, the three platforms aren’t cross-compatible so you won’t be able to use the Charge 4 (which supports JBL Connect+) and Charge 5 together in stereo mode. PartyBoost is the third guise of the JBLs multi-speaker technology and comes with a longer connection range and less latency than its predecessors JBL Connect and JBL Connect+.
JBL CHARGE 5 VS CHARGE 4 PORTABLE
To do so you simply have to locate nearby speakers within the JBL Portable app and press the PartyBoost buttons on the speakers you want to link. It does so via PartyBoost – the latest iteration of JBL’s daisy-chaining technology that enables you to pair two PartyBoost-compatible speakers in stereo mode or multiple speakers in “Party” mode. The final improvement relates to the Charge 5’s ability to connect to other JBL speakers and create a stereo or multi-speaker audio experience. That figure depends on the volume but either way that’s plenty enough stamina for most uses I used the speaker regularly for a week without needing to top it up. Stated battery life is unchanged at up to 20 hours of audio playback per charge, which is plenty for a speaker of the Charge 5’s size. The 3.5mm jack has been removed, however, so you can’t hook up external devices via an audio cable. The flap is significantly smaller than the one on the Charge 4, which gives the fifth-gen model a cleaner, more attractive appearance.
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On the rear of the speaker, you’ll find a USB-C charging port (a USB-C cable is included in the box) alongside a small rubber flap beneath which is a USB-A port, so the Charge 5 can double up as a power bank. The base of the speaker has also been updated and now has rubberised strips to better grip the surface it’s placed on. The JBL logo adorning the front of the speaker has been restyled and the five LEDs that reflected the Charge 4’s battery level have been replaced by a single vertical bar that serves the same purpose. Best wireless speakers 2022: Stream exceptional audio over your Wi-Fi connection
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