JBL has quickly become some of our favorite speakers; the combination of sound quality and pricing makes it very enticing. If that’s what you’re after, with the added benefit of durability, then the JBL Charge 3 Speaker is one of the best speakers available, thanks to its good sound quality and IPX7 waterproofing. It’s certainly a contender as one of the top-rated JBL speakers.
Why We Like It – JBL Charge 3 Speaker Review
If you love music and need a rugged speaker for the outdoors, you can’t go wrong with this speaker’s IPX7 waterproof rating, 20-hour battery life, and good sound quality.
- Good sound quality
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- 20-hour battery life
- Mids are flat
- Charges w/ a micro USB cable
Performance
Similar to the Doss Soundbox, the JBL Charge 3 Speaker impressed us with its emphasis on bass. It was pretty deep, with high notes coming in second. Singers often complimented low notes quite well. However, mids were a bit flat, often being overpowered by the bass and high notes. To combat this, you can bring two JBL speakers together and, using the JBL Connect app, you can create dual-stereo sound. That’ll really bump the sound quality up! More importantly, you can get up to 20 hours out of this speaker, just like you would with the Doss wireless Bluetooth portable speaker. And, both speakers last 6 more hours than the Oontz Angle 3 Speaker.
Related: If you like this speaker, check out our JBL Onbeat Air review.
Design
The JBL Charge 3 Speaker is a pretty sturdy piece of hardware, a common trait among JBL speakers. It’ll certainly take a beating and is even IPX7 waterproof, which means it can withstand a meter of full submersion in water for 30 mins. Our Bose Soundlink Color II review and Fugoo sport Bluetooth speaker review talk about two more waterproof speakers you’ll want to check out. All the buttons are located along the time, like play pause. with a hidden compartment in the back. Inside is a USB port for charging smart devices and a 3.5mm jack. You’ll also see the micro USB port, which is starting to look like a dinosaur these days. A MicroUSB port won’t provide the same charging performance a USB-C will.
Related: Also check out our iMaingo X review.
Value
The JBL Charge 3 Speaker is offering more than just good sound quality. It’s a speaker, with a built-in power bank, wrapped in a durable IPX7 waterproof shell—a feature the Anker Soundcore Speaker lacks. Compared to other portable Bluetooth speakers on our list, we’d recommend this one if you plan on heading outdoors, just because of how rugged it is.
If portability is more your style, you can get the same kind of durability from the JBL Flip. But if budget is a concern, check out the Oontz Angle 3 Speaker. If you prefer smart home functionality in your Bluetooth speakers, look to the Amazon Echo Dot Speaker.
JBL Charge 3 Speaker Review Wrap Up
The JBL Charge 3 offered some great sound quality when we needed it most—especially when taking it outdoors. Its IPX7 waterproof rating meant it could get a few raindrops on it and be fine, while having a long battery life to enjoy good music for most of the day. That’s enough to look past its outdated MicroUSB port and flat mids.
