The JBL Xtreme 4 and Charge 5 are both portable Bluetooth speakers, but the latest Xtreme 4 speaker is designed to deliver much louder sound preperformance with upgraded specs. The Xtreme 4 is larger and heavier, delivering more powerful sound with the ability to play stereo content without downmixing to mono. It also features a longer battery life, making it suitable for extended outdoor gatherings. In contrast, the Charge 5 is more compact and lightweight, providing greater portability. While it doesn’t reach the same volume levels as the Xtreme 4, it has lower latency with both iOS and Android devices, making it a better fit for watching movies and videos. Additionally, both speakers have high water and dust resistance ratings, ensuring durability in various environments.
Specs Comparison
The Xtreme 4 delivers a more powerful audio experience with a total output of 100W RMS, featuring two 30W woofers and two 20W tweeters. This speaker design creates a fuller and more immersive sound, making it a solid choice for larger spaces. On the other hand, the Charge 5 offers a 40W RMS output with a 30W woofer and a 10W tweeter, which works well for smaller gatherings and more casual listening.
In terms of battery life, the Xtreme 4 can keep the music going for up to 24 hours, while the Charge 5 provides around 20 hours of playtime. Both options offer plenty of time for long listening sessions, whether indoors or outdoors.
Compared with the JBL Xtreme 4, the Charge 5 is a more portable speaker. Weighing about 0.96 kg, it’s lightweight and easy to carry around, making it a better companion for travel and outdoor adventures. In contrast, the Xtreme 4, at approximately 2.1 kg, is bulkier and might be better suited for stationary use or shorter trips.
Both speakers have an IP67 rating, meaning they are resistant to dust and water. This makes them great for outdoor activities like beach days or poolside hangouts without worrying about splashes or dirt. In terms of connectivity, the Xtreme 4 comes with Bluetooth 5.3, providing a strong and reliable connection, while the Charge 5 uses Bluetooth 5.1, which still provides solid performance for wireless streaming.
Table Comparison
Feature | JBL Xtreme 4 | JBL Charge 5 |
Output Power | – AC Mode: 2 x 30W RMS (woofers) + 2 x 20W RMS (tweeters) – Battery Mode: 2 x 20W RMS (woofers) + 2 x 15W RMS (tweeters) | – 30W RMS (woofer) + 10W RMS (tweeter) |
Frequency Response | 44 Hz – 20 kHz | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
Battery Life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 20 hours |
Charging Time | 3.5 hours | 4 hours |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 297 x 141 x 149 mm | 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm |
Weight | 2.1 kg | 0.96 kg |
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
Waterproof Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
Additional Features | – AI Sound Boost – Auracast™ multi-speaker connection – Built-in powerbank – Replaceable battery – Fast charge (10 minutes for 2 hours of playtime) – JBL Portable app support – Made with recycled materials | – PartyBoost for pairing multiple JBL speakers – Built-in powerbank – Available in multiple colors |
In summary, the JBL Xtreme 4 offers higher output power, longer battery life, and additional features like AI Sound Boost and a replaceable battery, making it suitable for larger gatherings and extended use. The JBL Charge 5, being more compact and lightweight, is ideal for portability while still delivering robust sound and useful features like PartyBoost.
Sound Comparison
I picked “Hotel California (Eagles)” “Blinding Lights (The Weeknd)” and “Don’t Start Now (Dua Lipa)” so I could focus on details like guitar clarity, vocal presence, and bass punch. I moved the volume up and down on both speakers to see which offered stronger low-end response and how well they handled the brighter tones in each track.
In terms of sound quality, the Xtreme 4 (which has dual 2.75-inch woofers and two tweeters) delivered more powerful bass. Its larger body meant I felt heavier vibrations during Blinding Lights and the sound reached deeper lows without distorting at higher volumes. The Charge 5 had a smaller 2-way driver design (a 2.25-inch woofer plus a separate tweeter) so it didn’t shake the room in the same way, yet it provided a clear midrange that let me hear delicate strings in Hotel California. Both speakers have passive radiators on each side, though the ones on the Xtreme 4 felt more robust and gave me a punchier edge when I tested them at similar volume levels.
I also paid attention to how vocals sounded in Don’t Start Now and the Charge 5 offered crisp highs that stayed clean, even as I dialed up the volume. The Xtreme 4 still kept a decent balance in that range though it leaned toward a warmer tone that suited rock and pop tracks. I liked how either speaker could fill a medium-sized room but I reached for the Xtreme 4 when I wanted a bigger punch, while the Charge 5 felt easier to grab if I just wanted good clarity in a smaller form.
Comparing the bass performance of both speakers, I felt that the Xtreme 4 (with its dual 2.75-inch woofers and two tweeters) handled deep frequencies more effectively and delivered a heavier thump I could feel underfoot. I noticed its rated lower frequency response (near 53 Hz) gave me a fuller rumble in the sub-bass range when I pushed the volume up. The Charge 5, which uses a 2.25-inch woofer plus a separate tweeter, still had a solid low end for its size but rolled off a bit higher (around 65 Hz). It offered decent punch during hip-hop tracks yet didn’t provide the same room-filling weight as the larger Xtreme 4. I found that if I really wanted the chest-rattling bass effect I gravitated toward the Xtreme 4, whereas the Charge 5 felt like a lighter alternative that could still give me a satisfying but less intense low-frequency experience.
Comparing the design
The Xtreme 4 (slightly larger and heavier at around 4.3 pounds) felt more robust with thicker fabric covering the body and solid metal hooks for the included shoulder strap. It had an IP67 rating that let me carry it outside without worrying about dirt or a quick splash and the passive radiators on each side had a sturdy rubberized edge. The Charge 5 (weighing roughly 2.1 pounds) felt more compact with a similar fabric and rubber shell plus an IP67 rating as well. I liked that it fit easily in my bag when I headed out, though I could see the advantage of the Xtreme 4’s bigger frame if I wanted a speaker that felt more anchored on a table or a patio. Both had well-sealed ports on the back and a clear battery indicator and are designed like a tank for added durability.
Compared to other options in this price range (like the Sony SRS-XB43 and the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3) to get a feel for how the build quality stacked up, the Sony model weighed a bit more than the Charge 5 and had a broader shape with a mix of hard plastic and fabric, while the Megaboom 3 felt lighter than the Xtreme 4 but didn’t have the same solid metal attachments for a strap. I found that the JBL speakers each had a durable design suited for portable use, with the Xtreme 4 leaning toward a heavier-duty approach and the Charge 5 striking a balance between toughness and easy portability. The Sony speaker was somewhere in the middle with a wide footprint that made it stable, and the UE felt like the lightest option if I wanted to slip it into a backpack. Overall, the JBL Xtreme 4 is built as a large speaker to handle the rough outdoors (with 100W of output power) while the JBL Charge 5 is a compact 40W outdoor speaker that still shares the same IP67 protection and sturdy materials.
The Verdict?
The upgraded JBL Xtreme 4 speaker definitely sounds much better than the JBL Charge 5. It has much more power at up to 100Ws RMS as compared to the JBL Charge 5’s 40W RMS, and can handle much louder volume and bass as compared to the Charge 5 speaker. The sound from the JBL Xtreme 4 is also crisp and very clear, and you can push up the volume on the JBL Xtreme 4 speaker to max volume without hearing any hint of distortion – the sound quality remains clear and consistent.
If I had to choose between the JBL Xtreme 4 and the JBL Charge 5, I would go for the JBL Xtreme 4 because it comes with updated features such as Bluetooth version 5.3 and comes with new features such as AI sound boost and Auracast and a 100W RMS power output compared with the Charge 5’s 40W. And while the JBL Charge 5 isn’t bad as a standalone portable Bluetooth speaker, it does not have the same volume output or the level of bass thump that you would get from the JBL Xtreme 4 speaker, and the sound on the Charge 5 can start to distort at maximum volume levels. While both are good speakers, the JBL Xtreme 4 has much more specs, latest tech and sound performance to offer, and is a much better speaker if you don’t mind the extra weight and size of the Xtreme 4.