With the plethora of JBL portable speakers available today, choosing the best JBL speaker to fuel your next party can be a daunting task. Add the latest JBL Flip 5 to the mix and you have another portable and high-quality waterproof speaker to consider. At less than 100USD (it is on sale at the time of writing), it’s budget-friendly, too. We compare the new
Bring the party with you anywhere you go with the JBL Charge 3. Its 6,000mAh battery packs enough power for full stereo sound up to 20 hours, and you can charge your devices via USB, too.
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JBL Flip 5 vs Charge 3 Portable Speakers Comparison Chart
| Model | JBL Charge 3 | |
 | | |
| Price | Check Price at Walmart | Check Price at Walmart |
| Dimensions | 18.1 x 6.9 x 7.4 cm (7.1″ x 2.7″ x 2.9″) | 21.3 x 8.7 x 8.85 cm (8.38″ x 3.42″ x 3.48″) |
| Weight | 1.19 lbs / 540 g | 1.26 lbs / 800g |
| Bluetooth | Version 4.2 | Version 4.1 |
| Waterproof | IPX7 / Up to 3 ft | IPX7 / Up to 3 ft |
| Runtime | Up to 12 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Battery | 4,800 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| 3.5 mm Audio Input | No | Yes |
| Powerbank | No | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W RMS | 2x10W |
| Wireless Pairing | JBL PartyBoost | JBL Connect+ |
| Voice Assistant Integration | No | Yes |
| Color Options | 11 | 6 |
| Year of Release | 2019 | 2017 |
Design and Build Quality
The 
The aesthetics of the JBL Flip5 and Charge 3 screams JBL–their pill-shaped frames, fabric grilles, and plastic base support are typical among JBL’s Flip and Charge series. Their raised playback controls uniformly blend with the rest of the mesh grille, giving both the Flip 5 and Charge 3 a minimalist, monochrome look. Where they considerably differ is in their weight and size. The new Flip 5 is more compact than the Charge 3. Weighing 540g, the Flip 5 is also lighter than the Charge 3 by 260 g.
Both the
Audio Quality
The JBL Charge 3 gets slightly louder and its vocals are more clear when used outdoors, but the Flip 5 has a clearer, more balanced sound profile
As the smaller speaker, the
The newer
Boasting an excellent sound profile and an IPX7 rating, the JBL Flip 5 portable Bluetooth speaker can liven up outdoor and indoor parties all day.
If you want the perfect balance between booming bass and undistorted mids and highs, the JBL Charge 4 meets these criteria. It is worth noting that both the Flip 5 and the Charge 3 only support SBC audio codec, so there might be a slight delay when they’re used for watching videos. However, the lag is almost unnoticeable unless you pay close attention.
Set-Up and Controls
The
As they have different pairing protocols, you can’t pair the If you see yourself eventually building a JBL speaker ecosystem or you already have one, a crucial deciding factor between the
Most of the previous models, such as the Charge 3, Charge 4, and Flip 4 pair through the JBL Connect+. If you own Connect+ enabled speakers, then the Charge 3 is what fits your collection. On the other hand, if you’re only starting your collection of JBL wireless speakers, the more updated Flip 5 is your safer bet. This is because JBL won’t update the firmware on the Connect+ to make it compatible with newer JBL speakers.Â
Battery and Additional Features
The
With 12 and 20 hours of playback, respectively, the Flip 5 (left) and Charge 3 (right) can fuel the party all day long
Both the
As the newer model, the
Verdict
The JBL Charge 3 offers overall better value for your money, but if you want the option to pair your speaker with future JBL releases, get the newer Flip 5 instead.
Boasting an excellent sound profile and an IPX7 rating, the JBL Flip 5 portable Bluetooth speaker can liven up outdoor and indoor parties all day.
Bring the party with you anywhere you go with the JBL Charge 3. Its 6,000mAh battery packs enough power for full stereo sound up to 20 hours, and you can charge your devices via USB, too.
The JBL Charge 3 towers above the JBL Flip 5 waterproof portable speaker in many departments. It’s louder, delivers punchier bass, boasts longer battery life, and offers other nifty smart features that are unavailable on the Flip 5. As mentioned earlier, if you currently own JBL speakers that pair through Connect+ and you need the speaker to be compatible with them, the Charge 3 is the clear choice for you.
Meanwhile, if you’re in the market for your first JBL portable speaker or want one that you can pair with the Pulse 4 and future speakers, you’re better off with the JBL Flip 5. The Flip 5 doesn’t get as loud and bass-heavy as the Charge 3, but it delivers cleaner sound across different genres.
On the other hand, the Charge 3’s audio sounds muffled at times. On top of that, while the extra features on the Charge 3 may sound appealing at first, many users don’t end up making use of them. If you don’t mind paying a bit more in exchange for deeper bass that doesn’t compromise clarity, we recommend getting the JBL Charge 4 instead of the Charge 3.
FAQs
Since they have different sizes, it’s an unfair game for the more compact
. In a nutshell, the
Yes, both the JBL Charge 3 and Flip 5 are waterproof and are IPX7-rated.
It is loud enough for its size, but it doesn’t get as loud as the JBL Charge 3.
For some reason, JBL did not equip the Flip 5 with voice assistant support. If you require this, go with the Charge 3 instead.