Summary
The JBL Charge 4 is a much louder and more powerful speaker than the JBL Flip 5. While the JBL Flip 5 has several improvements over its predecessor the Flip 4, it still lacks volume and bass as compared to the JBL Charge 4.
The JBL Charge 4 has a total volume output of 30 watts as compared to the JBL Flip 4 which only has 20 watts. Furthermore, the Charge 4 has a much larger battery capacity that delivers up to 20 hours of playtime, while the battery life on the Flip 5 delivers 12 hours of playtime on a single charge.
In terms of absolute sound output, the JBL Charge 4 is definitely a much more powerful speaker with deeper bass response. That being said, the JBL Flip 5 is smaller and more portable due to its smaller size. Both speakers are IPX7 waterproof which means that they can be submerged underwater to a depth of 1m for 30 minutes without any issues.
Comparing the Specs
JBL Flip 5
The JBL Flip 5 has an improved and slightly larger design than the Flip 4 with a new racetrack-shaped driver which delivers high sound output and deep booming bass. The battery life has also been improved – the JBL Flip 5 now delivers 12 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge with JBL signature sound output. The JBL Flip 5 has a wattage rating of 20 watts.
Apart from the sound performance and battery life, the JBL Flip 5 is IPX7 waterproof which makes it completely waterproof and can even be submerged three-feet deep underwater for up to 30 minutes. The Flip 5 speaker also supports multiple daisy pairing with JBL party boost functionality to create a much wider listening field. The JBL Flip 5 also comes with 11 distinct color options with its bass-heavy signature sound, making it ideal for outdoor party use.
JBL Charge 4
The JBL Charge 4 is a much larger and more powerful speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Charge 4 has a wattage rating of 30 watts, and allows you to wirelessly connect up to 2 smartphone or tablet devices to the speaker. It comes with a built-in battery that delivers an incredible 20 hours of playtime on a single charge with a 7500mAh capacity.
This speaker is fully waterproof and you can take it to the beach or poolside without having to worry about exposure to water or rain. This Bluetooth speaker is IPX7 waterproof resistant.
We particularly liked the fact that you can connect up to 100 JBL Connect+ speakers together to create a much wider soundstage and listening field.
Sound Performance
JBL Flip 5
Where the JBL Flip 5 shines is in its outdoor sound quality. This speaker delivers full-range audio performance with deep bass output. The speaker is designed with two passive bass-radiators at the side which greatly enhances the overall bass output, giving depth to bass-heavy music genres including hip-hop, rock and electronic dance music.
The Flip 5 speaker is a little bigger than the Flip 4 speaker and has balanced sound performance with a great deal of volume. You can practically crank up the volume on the Flip 5 without hearing any distortion; the volume output is suitable for outdoor use and you can feel the bass output coming from this speaker even in outdoor environments. The Flip 5 handles a good variety of music genres including classical, instrumental, rock, vocal, hip-hop and EDM without any issues – the sound quality is consistently clear and the highs and midranges are well-balanced. In terms of sound quality, the JBL Flip 5 delivers slightly more bass and impact than the Flip 4 with better volume output.
JBL Charge 4
Compared to the JBL Flip 5, the JBL Charge 4 is much louder and produces full-range sound performance. The sound feels much more well-rounded and balanced with deep bass response. At full volume level, the Charge 4 definitely sounds much louder than the Flip 5 in all aspects – you can even hear details in the music which you might not have noticed before.
The bass response on the JBL Charge 4 hits much harder and goes deeper than the Flip 5 speaker, making it a natural choice for EDM and rock music performances. The highs and midranges on the Charge 4 speaker are crisp and clear, which make it a very enjoyable speaker to listen to.
The Verdict?
The JBL Charge 4 is a much more powerful speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Charge 4 has a power rating of 30 watts as compared to 20 watts for the Flip 5. It also has a longer battery life of 20 hours as compared to the Flip 5’s 12 hours. It can produce much more volume and sound performance with deeper bass response.
We thoroughly enjoyed listening to music through the Charge 4 speaker. You can also use this speaker as a power bank to charge your smartphone devices via the USB port.
If you are looking for a portable speaker that’s lightweight and easier to carry around, the JBL Flip 5 may be a better choice because it is smaller and more economical than the Charge 4.