Review the latest model of portable Bluetooth speaker "JBL CHARGE 5"!

Review


The music in recent smartphone games is very elaborate.
Just by listening to the BGM of a game, you can immerse yourself in the story and remember the accidents during the game.
Some smartphone games have a BGM playback feature, so you can listen to all the music you want, whenever you want! ......, but the sound quality of your smartphone just isn't quite enough! I want to listen to game music with better sound quality! If you want to listen to game music with better sound quality, we have good news for you.
JBL, the world's leading audio manufacturer, has announced the newest model of its portable Bluetooth speaker "CHARGE" series, the " JBL CHARGE 5 "!
It will be released on May 21, 2021 (Friday ), and Harman International has donated a pre-release "JBL CHARGE 5" to us!
Thank you so much! I opened the package right away and would like to share with you how it looks like!


The cool packaging emphasizes the waterproof design!

Package surface
Saiga NAK


The squad-colored "JBL CHARGE 5" is looking very cool in this picture!
As you can see on the package, the JBL CHARGE 5 is not only waterproof, but also dustproof!
You can enjoy your music not only in the kitchen, but also in parks, gardens, and other places where you don't want to be bothered by dust.

Backside of the package
Saiga NAK


On the back of the package, the features of the "JBL CHARGE 5" are briefly summarized.
The most eye-catching feature is the 20-hour playback time!
That's a powerful model that can play for almost an entire day.

Side of the package
Saiga NAK


On the side of the package, the "JBL PartyBoost" feature is mentioned.
It seems that by connecting speakers that support the "JBL PartyBoost" function, multiple speakers can play music at the same time.
It seems that this feature can be used to enjoy stereo sound by connecting multiple speakers, or to play background music in a place where many people gather.

Top of the package
Saiga NAK


The top of the box has been treated to look like a squad color motif!
You can feel JBL's attention to detail...
Let's open the package right away!


The packaging is so well done and solid!

Let's open the package!
Saiga NAK


When the lid is opened, the words "PLAY AND CHARGE ENDLESSLY" pop out along with an emo photo!
It's a nice photo that really shows off the fact that it can be used outdoors.
It's ...... dazzling.

A small box with the bundle
Saiga NAK


At the top of the box was a small box containing the bundled items.
The words " CHARGE5 " are casually embossed on the box, which is very stylish.

Speakers
Saiga NAK


The speaker is neatly wrapped in a protective cover and packed.
Incidentally, the bottom of the box has a thick bottom, and the speaker is gripped tightly by a recess that matches the speaker's shape.
This is a very careful consideration to prevent damage to the speakers from shaking during delivery.


Finally, meeting the speakers!


Unveiling the contents of the box
Saiga NAK


The following is what is inside.

  • JBL CHARGE 5 x 1
  • USB Type-C cable x 1
  • Safety sheet x 1
  • Quick Start Guide x 1
  • Warranty Card x 1


Check from the speakers immediately
Saiga NAK

...The form is so cool...!
It has an overwhelming presence even though I just put it on the table.
It feels packed with contents, yet it is lighter than I expected.
It's about the size of a 500ml PET bottle, and seems to be easy to carry around.
The size is about the same as a 500ml PET bottle, but a bit thicker.
Below the JBL logo is a gauge that shows the remaining battery charge.
Since it can continue to play for 20 hours, it seems possible to continue using it for a while even if the battery is half depleted.



Top of speaker
Saiga NAK


On the top of the speaker is a power button, a Bluetooth icon, volume control, pause and playback buttons, and a button for the "JBL PartyBoost" function.
Having all the buttons on top makes it easy to operate with one hand.



Back of speaker
Saiga NAK


The back of the speaker has a terminal for charging.
The color of the terminal is orange, matching the non-slip surface. The combination with the squad color is stylish and numbing.
Simple is best " is a month-old phrase, but this is really cool....



with a pop
Saiga NAK


By the way, when you open the CHARGE tab, you will find a USB port inside. You can even connect your smartphone here and charge it. This is very convenient!
When the lid is closed, it feels " sealed " properly. It seems to prevent water and dust from entering.



Speaker side
Saiga NAK


The JBL logo mark on the side of the case has a "! on the side.



Documents included in the package
Saiga NAK

This is the safety sheet, the quick start guide, and the warranty card.
The safety sheet starts out in English, so I was a bit surprised, but when I looked for it, I found a page written in Japanese. That was a relief.



Quick Start Guide
Saiga NAK

It explains how to use the product mainly with illustrations. Easy to understand!



USB Type-C Cable
Saiga NAK

This is the cable for charging the speaker.
The orange plug is stylish!



JBL logo also glimpsed
Saiga NAK

The JBL logo is also dug into the cable, giving it a high-end feel.


Let's listen to some music right away!

The "JBL CHARGE 5" has a very stylish visual appearance.
Since it is an audio device, you must be very curious about the sound quality.
The official website says...



The JBL Charge 5 features an optimized long excursion driver, independent high frequency units, and dual JBL bass radiators for incredibly rich and clear audio.
JBL CHARGE 5


The official website says....
Well, anyway, you will never know about the sound quality until you listen to it.



I'll turn it on right away.
Saiga NAK


Then, turn it on!
Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
The speaker started up with a light startup sound!
The Bluetooth icon on the top of the speaker starts blinking, and a sound like it is searching for a connection point begins to play.
The "JBL CHARGE 5" is supposed to be used by connecting a smartphone or other device via Bluetooth, so I prepared my personal iPhone 7 Plus.
Although it is a few years old, I was able to connect it without any problem.



The battery level bar glows!
Saiga NAK


The battery was charged to full.
This looks like it should be ready to use as soon as it arrives!

Now let's play some music. Using the BGM playback function of my favorite smartphone game, let's listen to it!
......
......
............ the music comes through clearly to your ears!
You will realize once again, "I didn't know that the BGM for this story was this good."
I should say that you will be able to hear sounds and instruments that you have not been able to hear through before.
Of course, I think it's partly because I'm concentrating on listening to the music so I can hear it clearly, but even so, listening to a memorable song with good sound quality is an emotional experience.
The sound that used to come from my smartphone or earphones is now coming from a stationary speaker, and it feels more special than I thought it would.
I think I can use it as background music for work or study. Oh, and if you think about it, this is a good way to avoid losing focus because you don't have to touch your smartphone every time you want to control the music.
Volume adjustment and playback/pause are done from the top buttons. I was able to control the music smoothly without any noticeable delay.



The battery is properly charged.
Saiga NAK


I was also able to charge my smartphone using the USB port provided behind the speaker.
This could serve as an alternative to a mobile battery in an emergency!


Cool, practical, portable speakers!


How was it?
I've mostly explained the features and visuals, but I think you have to hear it live to experience the quality of the sound.
The size and weight are reasonable, the battery has a large capacity of 20 hours, and above all, it can even charge your smartphone!
The JBL CHARGE 5 is available for pre-order on the official website for 16,280 yen. It is available in five colors: black, red, gray, blue, and the one we introduced this time, squad.


JBL is also holding a " Buy a speaker, win a prize! Music is power. Buy a pair of JBL speakers and win a pair of JBL speakers!
JBL CHARGE 5 " is included in this campaign, so if you are interested in this product, please check the official Twitter!
For more information on the JBL CHARGE 5, please visit the JBL CHARGE 5 product page on Harman International, Inc.

© 2021 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.