The wireless speaker market is saturated. No matter what size, shape, colour or power level you want, you can find it. If you really want to make a splash, though, you have to find ways to stand out.
The latest entry into the space is another new offering by JBL. The JBL Charge 4 is a cylindrical, wireless, rechargeable Bluetooth portable speaker with 30 watts of power. How does it sound and is it a good buy? I had a chance to spend a week with the device to find out.
Find the JBL Charge 4 at Best Buy
JBL Charge 4: What’s in the Box?
The contents of the box are appropriately slim; you’ll get the speaker plus a Type C USB cable for charging, and the associated paperwork.
Setting up JBL Charge 4
The speaker is super simple to set up and use.
Turn it on by pressing the “Power” button along the top of your JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker, then press the “Bluetooth” button along the top of the speaker next to the Power button. The Bluetooth button will start flashing, and you’ll hear a pinging sound. Go to your Bluetooth settings and look for “JBL Charge 4.” Tap to connect. The JBL Charge 4 will make a sound after a successful connection.
Does JBL Charge 4 have Alexa/Google connectivity?
A major feature manufacturers are building in is voice assistant control, but sadly here JBL is lagging. There is no Google or Alexa connectivity built in. I feel like that’s a bit of an oversight here, particularly with a speaker that’s so fresh on the market. If you want to talk to your speaker or use it to control your smart home, you’ll need to choose a different device.
This review was written for Best Buy, please head to the Best Buy blog to read the rest (and support my work with them!). Thanks!
