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JBL’s Charge 3 is a USB phone charger with a built-in Bluetooth speaker. Or maybe the other way around. Whether it comes with heavy-duty waterproofing, a decent battery that’ll let you drink juice if your phone dies, and you can daisy-chain speakers together to pump up the volume.
Jbl Charge 3 Portable Speaker
That’s a feature you don’t find on every Bluetooth headset and it’s available at a decent price, so there’s got to be a catch, right?
Jbl Charge 5
About the size of a Thermos bottle and covered in a strong woven fabric, the Charge 3 is essentially a cylinder but with a clamped platform at the bottom that remains stationary. The row of buttons above offers the usual array of controls: Bluetooth pairing, volume adjustment and play/pause, which you can double-click in a row to skip a song, or hold to summon Siri or the Google Assistant for Android from your phone.
In the middle, next to the on/off button, you’ll find a button that looks like a cross between an hourglass and an infinity symbol. This is used to activate the JBL Connect feature, which allows you to connect other products made by JBL to create a pair of speakers that all play the same song from the same phone.
I only have one, so I can’t test it, but in theory it’s only limited by money and equipment, so if you can get 500 speakers supported in one place, you can test the patience of your neighbors.
On the back is a panel covering the usual micro USB for charging, a 3.5mm input for anyone still clinging to their old iPod Classic, and one other socket you don’t usually see on a portable Bluetooth speaker: a full-sized USB. port.
Jbl Charge 3+ Mini Bluetooth Speaker
The Charge 3’s large battery (6000mAh, twice the size of the Samsung Galaxy S8) can be used to power your phone. It’s not a replacement for a pocket-sized charger but it’s certainly useful to have the option. Of course, that will eat into battery life, but with about 20 hours of use, you can probably lose less. After watching the Startup again, I used it to charge another Bluetooth headset. A five-light indicator on the plinth shows how much is left, and, once you plug it into the network, how long it will take for the charge to be fully charged.
The exposed bass ports on both ends would make you question its waterproof capabilities, but I took it to the shower with my Wash ‘n’ Go bottle and the water came out like a duck in a mug. If you prefer a hot shower, it can hold 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. Just make sure the back flap is closed properly
My review sample came in a lovely mint green color, reminiscent of mint choc ice cream but not quite as delicious. Any version of black, blue or red will be good and gray should only be considered if you like boring things.
Despite being almost cylindrical, the sound coming from the Charge 3 is one-way. That doesn’t mean it looks like Harry Styles and friends, but instead you won’t get the full effect of its 20W power unless you’re in front of it.
Jbl Charge 3 Plus Bluetooth Speaker Price Is Best
It is wonderful entertainment. It’s sharper than something like the UE Boom 2, but that’s what allows it to sound solid and understated. The sound is well-rounded with good balance, if sometimes a little lacking in excitement, so you’ll need to dial it up to get the most out of it.
It’s also nice and loud, with exciting and well-controlled bass that doesn’t overpower. If you add the Charge 3, you can see those woofers at each end doing their thing – it can be really cool to watch your music play.
However, the midrange can sometimes be a little lacking, with singers occasionally finding thin and busy tracks a little muddled, but it’s the exception to the rule and the top end is always crisp and sharp.
Sometimes I find a slight mismatch between the music volume and the notification sounds sent from your phone when you receive a text, and the on/off sounds are a little Jar Jar Binks, but they do the job without rushing you through the instructions. .
Review: Jbl Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker
There’s a built-in app that you use to plug in other speakers and change the default play/pause button functionality, but if you’ve never downloaded it, you’re missing out.
There’s very little to criticize about the Charge 3. Its solid design means it doesn’t feel like a premium product but overall its audio performance will be different.
It sounds better than the UE Wonderboom but it’s more expensive and not as compact, while it’s cheaper than the UE Boom 2 but it probably doesn’t sound as good and it’s definitely not as smart, which leaves you with three tricks.
Price will probably be the deciding factor for many, and if you decide to spend £135 on the Charge 3, you won’t regret it at all.
Jbl Charge 3 Vs Jbl Xtreme Wireless Speakers Review
Solid sound and design make the JBL Premium 3 a solid choice if you don’t want to pay top dollar.
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Jbl Charge 3 Portable Waterpoof Bluetooth Speaker
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There are millions of wireless Bluetooth speakers you can buy today, but three brands rise to the top: Bose, Ultimate Ears and JBL. And of the three, only JBL makes a model that also serves as a backup battery for phones and other devices that use USB: the Charging Line.
The JBL Charge 3 is a well-designed, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that features great battery life and doubles as an external charger for your mobile devices. It also has built-in microphone capability, and plays loud and strong bass for its size and price class.
Jbl Charge 3 Review: Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Plays Louder, But Sound Quality Takes A Step Back
The JBL Charge 3 is bigger than its predecessor, fully waterproof and louder — but it should sound better.
The JBL Charge 3 looks identical to the highly rated JBL Charge 2+ and has the same list price of $150 and £150. In Australia, the sticker price is AU$229, but you can pick it up for less than AU$200. While the Charge 2+ isn’t waterproof, its successor is completely waterproof, with an IPX7 certification, meaning it can be completely submerged in water for short periods of time. Like its predecessor, you can lay it flat or stand it vertically. And, for better or worse, the new model is about 20 percent bigger and heavier.
It offers an impressive 20 hours of battery life and also has speakerphone capability. Using the JBL Connect app you can wirelessly connect this headset to other JBL Connect-enabled speakers to amplify the sound and expand the soundstage.
The big question, of course, is this better than the JBL Charge 2+, which we loved for $150 and is now available for less? The short answer is no. The new model plays louder and delivers more bass, but the Charge 2+ sounds tighter — and by that I mean it’s a more balanced speaker with better bass definition and smoother treble.
Jbl Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker, Grey
However, using this Charge 3 outside in a large open area like a patio, the loudest sound will be a property; will lead further.
The bottom line is that I’m not sure how much the 3rd upgrade charge is over 2+ Charges. It plays louder, is completely waterproof and has a strong battery life,
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