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JBL Charge 3 · JBL's Canadian product image; the small native image has slight edge aliasing.

JBL Charge 3
Photo 1 of 6

JBL Charge 3 · JBL's Canadian product image; the small native image has slight edge aliasing.

JBL

Charge 3

Released 2016

A waterproof stereo Bluetooth speaker with a USB power bank and a speakerphone, suited to outdoor listening.

Type
Portable speaker
Atmos
No
Connects by
Bluetooth
Battery
20 h
Weight
0.8 kg

What reviewers say

Reviewers find loud, bass-heavy sound and long battery life. SoundGuys considers the size-to-sound balance useful outdoors; GearLab finds it bulky and the bass overpowering. Both criticise clarity in parts of the sound. GearLab reports longer endurance than SoundGuys, whose test broadly matches the maker's claim.

From soundguys.com and techgearlab.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
Portable speaker
Channels
stereo
Dolby Atmos
No
Drivers
Two 50 mm drivers and two external passive radiators
Amplifiers
2 × 10 W
Frequency response
65 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB

Connections

Wi-Fi
No
Bluetooth
Yes
AirPlay
No
Voice assistants
None
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
Ports
Micro-USB charging, USB power-bank output (5 V / 2 A) and 3.5 mm audio input (port types from SoundGuys)
Multi-room
JBL Connect at launch; the maker offers a firmware upgrade to Connect+, after which it cannot link with original Connect speakers
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)
Up to 20 hours
Water and dust resistance
IPX7
Weight
0.8 kg
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.
Microphones
Noise- and echo-cancelling speakerphone
Size
213 × 88.5 × 87 mm (W × H × D); 800 g, from the maker's specification sheet rather than SoundGuys' conflicting table
In the box
Charge 3, 5 V / 2.3 A USB adaptor, micro-USB cable, quick start guide, safety sheet and warranty card

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Two drivers and two passive radiators
  • Up to 20 hours of playback and USB charging for a phone
  • IPX7 water resistance

Cons

  • Micro-USB charging takes 4.5 hours
  • No Wi-Fi or AirPlay
  • Linking with newer Connect+ speakers requires a firmware upgrade

Closest rivals

Model
TypeAtmosConnects byBatteryWeightReleased
BeatsPill+
Portable speakerNoBluetooth12 h0.75 kgOct 2015
Ultimate EarsBOOM 3
Portable speakerNoBluetooth15 h0.608 kg2018
JBLFlip 4
Portable speakerNoBluetooth12 h0.51 kg2017

Newer model: Charge 4.

Sources

  1. support.jbl.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_Harman/default/dwe94…
  2. ca.jbl.com/products/JBLCHARGE3BLKAM.html
  3. news.harman.com/releases/waterproof-rugged-and-ready-for-adventure:-jblR-reveal…
  4. news.harman.com/releases/jblR-presents-update-to-successful-portable-speaker-li…
  5. support.jbl.com/ca/en/howto/which-jbl-products-have-the-connect-technology-us/0…
  6. soundguys.com/jbl-charge-3-review-9360

Photo: JBL's Canadian product image; the small native image has slight edge aliasing.

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