JBL Charge 3 vs JBL Charge 4

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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Charge 3 compared with Charge 4

	JBLCharge 3	JBLCharge 4
Overview
Released
Released	2016	2018
Sound
Type
Type	Portable speaker	Portable speaker
Channels
Channels	stereo	–
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	No	No
Drivers
Drivers	Two 50 mm drivers and two external passive radiators	One 50 × 90 mm driver and two passive radiators
Amplifiers
Amplifiers	2 × 10 W	30 W RMS
Frequency response
Frequency response	65 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB	60 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	No
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
AirPlay
AirPlay	No	No
Voice assistants
Voice assistants	None	None
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.1; A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6 and HSP 1.2; up to three phones or tablets can connect and take turns	Bluetooth 4.2; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6; two phones or tablets can connect and take turns
Ports
Ports	Micro-USB charging, USB power-bank output (5 V / 2 A) and 3.5 mm audio input (port types from SoundGuys)	USB-C charging, USB-A power-bank output (5 V / 2 A maximum) and 3.5 mm audio input; port types confirmed by SoundGuys and TechRadar
Multi-room
Multi-room	JBL Connect at launch; the maker offers a firmware upgrade to Connect+, after which it cannot link with original Connect speakers	Connect+ links more than 100 compatible speakers; original Connect speakers require a compatible firmware upgrade, which the maker offers for Charge 3
App
App	A later firmware update enables Siri or Google Now through a connected phone, rather than a built-in assistant	–
Design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 20 hours
Water and dust resistance
Water and dust resistance	IPX7	IPX7
Weight
Weight	0.8 kg (better)	0.965 kg
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 20 hours depending on volume and content; 6,000 mAh / 22.2 Wh lithium-ion polymer battery; 4.5 hours to charge; included 5 V / 2.3 A adaptor. The final specification sheet supersedes the CES announcement's 15-hour claim.	Up to 20 hours depending on volume and content; 27 Wh (3.6 V, 7,500 mAh) lithium-ion polymer battery; 4 hours to charge at 5 V / 2.3 A
Microphones
Microphones	Noise- and echo-cancelling speakerphone	No microphone for phone calls (SoundGuys)
Size
Size	213 × 88.5 × 87 mm (W × H × D); 800 g, from the maker's specification sheet rather than SoundGuys' conflicting table	220 × 93 × 95 mm (W × H × D), following the maker's W × D × H specification
Colours
Colours	–	Desert Sand, Mustard Yellow, Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White and Forest Green at launch
In the box
In the box	Charge 3, 5 V / 2.3 A USB adaptor, micro-USB cable, quick start guide, safety sheet and warranty card	Charge 4, USB-C cable, quick start guide, warranty card and safety sheet; no mains adaptor listed