Bluetooth speakers are very convenient and easily portable. Waterproof Bluetooth speakers add a layer of protection in wetter environments, but do they hold up to their waterproof ratings? To make sure you won’t end up with just a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, our experts have created a comparison between the JBL Flip 4 VS Charge 3.
JBL Flip 4 or Charge 3?
- 20 hours of playtime
- Can connect up to 3 devices
- IPX7 Waterproof
- Noise/Echo-cancelling speakerphone
- 12 hours of playtime
- Can connect up to 2 devices
- IPX7 Waterproof
- JBL Connect+
Features of JBL Flip 4 and Charge 3
Design and Build
As mentioned previously in this comparison, one is larger than the other, and that could affect how portable it is for your circumstances.
The Charge 3 is the larger of the two speakers and measures at 8.38 x 3.42 x 3.48 in or (213 x 87 x 88.5 mm), and the smaller Flip 4 is 6.89 x 2.68 x 2.76 in or (175 x 68 x 70 mm). Even though the Charge 3 and Charge 4 is larger, the weight difference between the two wireless speakers is barely noticeable. The Charge 3 is 1.76 pounds and the Flip 4 is 1.13 pounds.
They both have a rubber base for easy placement on surfaces and will prevent the wireless speaker systems from slipping like with Flip 3. Both the Flip 4 and its competitor, Charge 3, can be placed on their sides for more versatility.
Also, the control panel on both portable speakers has the same controls. By using the control panel on these portable speakers, you can turn them on or off, connect to wireless devices, play or pause the content and control the volume levels.
The control buttons are located under a protective rubber flap to make sure you don’t get any water on it.
The overall appearance of the Charge 3 wireless speaker and the Flip 4 wireless speaker is also similar. They have a cylindrical design with wraparound grilles and the JBL logo across the center. What our experts really like about the two wireless speakers are not only the design, but also the quality and feel.
Sound Quality
The frequency response on both wireless speakers are low. Low frequency responses means more thunderous bass. Even from such small creations, you can expect some pretty impressive high end resonant notes. The bass produced by the Flip 4 sound quality is clear and accurate and punctuates and balances the highs and mids quite well.
On the other hand, the Charge 3 is heavily bass-focused just like the Charge 4, which means there is less attention going to the mids and highs. As a result, it won’t produce the higher spectrum as clearly as the Flip 4.
There are both pros and cons to the two, so our experts sum up the audio quality by saying the Flip 4 is the better option for those who want balanced audio and the Charge 3 is the more desirable choice for lovers of bass and deep thumps. However, for overall better sound, we still like the Flip 4.
When both speakers are taken out into the open, they are both very powerful with the Charge 3 having a tad wider reach. However, in most regular venues, they are both neck and neck in terms of audio channeling.
(You can also see how the Bose Soundlink Mini and Soundtouch 10 fares here.)
Durability of the JBL Charge 3 vs Flip 4
They are small sound system with vivid colors that seem to not be very durable at first glance. But when our experts unboxed them and inspected each wireless speaker in detail, they found that the JBL Charge 3 VS JBL Flip 4 have a very high end feel that screams of high quality.
They both have the same waterproof rating of IPx7, which basically equates to no fear of rain, spills, and even accidental submersion! However, just to be on the safe side, our experts advise you not to put your speakers waterproof ability to the test.
You can feel comfortable resuming with your plans even in the rain and relax when you accidentally spill beverages on your speakers. Just take a damp cloth to it or even run it under water for the best cleaning results.
For small speaker systems, the Flip 4 and Charge 3 are very sturdy additions to your audio arsenal and they are also very easy to use. The size difference will not impact the use and performance of either device.
Portability
Since both the Flip 4 and the Charge 3 are very small, they are a great choice for playing music and other content on-the-go.
People might worry about the charging since running out of battery life while away from home can be a headache. All you need to do is connect the speaker to a portable battery or even your smartphone in the case of the Charge 3 to power it up again.
Our experts feel the Charge 3 ranks higher in the portability department because it has a USB charging port just like the Charge 4 and the Flip 4 does not. The presence of the charging port means even if you run out of battery, you can prolong the use of the Charge 3 by connecting it to a power source.
Connectivity
The smaller Flip 4, which is modified from Flip 3, features a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB port to play your content in terms of wired connectivity. The larger JBL Charge 3 has both these options and an extra USB port for power connection. (How about soundbars? Check here for the best soundbars with headphone jacks.)
We won’t fault the JBL 4 for having less connectivity options as it is the smaller one of the wireless speakers, but there is no denying the convenience offered by the Charge 3. They can also both link to multiple external devices and they can both be integrated into a larger JBL system with JBL Connect +. With the JBL Connect + you can link up to 100 devices!
However, there is one aspect that sets them apart from each other, and that is how many devices you can connect to the audio system at once.
Being the smaller option, we expect the Flip 4 and Flip 3 to slightly underperform in this department. It can allow two tablet or smartphone devices to connect to it simultaneously. However, the Charge 3 can manage up to 3! Both the speaker systems are paired with other external devices.
For seamless connection, you can also check our page about how to pair JBL Clip 2 here.
Battery Life
We have talked about the importance of battery life in each speaker, but we never really looked at how long they can last in these two wireless speakers. This is when the size comes into play as well. If you like a smaller size, it will not only impact the power output of the speaker but also the operation time.
The Flip 4 is a smaller speaker, so naturally it has a smaller lithium ion battery. The battery is built in with a 3000 maH [1] and has a runtime of 12 hours on a full charge. Once you are out of juice, the recharge time is approximately 3.5 hours.
As for the Charge 3, the larger profile allows a larger 6000 maH battery with a runtime of an overwhelming 20 hours! It is way longer than other high-rated speaker models such as JBL Xtreme and Bose Soundlink 3. Yet, with a larger battery comes a longer recharge time of 4.5 hours.
JBL Flip 4 and Charge 3 Price
For many consumers, the deciding factor is the price, and not the frequency response, device runtime, or even sometimes the audio quality.
There is a difference in price for both devices but not by much. You can enjoy great sound whichever one you choose, but to save just a bit of cash, our team recommends going for the smaller Flip 4. It doesn’t reach three digits and is a smaller and more portable speaker size.
The JBL Charge 3 is priced a bit higher, but for those who like louder bass, a longer battery life and more versatility, our experts think the Charge 3 would be the better option.
If you are looking for affordable Bluetooth speakers, here are our top picks for the Best Bluetooth speaker under 200.
FAQ
What is the difference between the JBL Flip 4 and Charge 3?
The differences between the Flip 4 and Charge 3 are the connections, deep-toned production, size, price, and battery life. The Charge 3 offers more connection options and can sync with 3 devices. The bass sounds better and more audible in the JBL Charge 3 but the Flip 4 is cheaper and comes in a smaller size. Also, the Charge 3 lasts up to 20 hours while the Flip 4 lasts up to 12 hours. However, the more compact profile equals a shorter battery life.
(If you want a stable connection for your speakers, you can follow these four steps to pair JBL speakers to Bluetooth device)
Overall Winner: JBL Charge 3
Our experts’ final verdict on the JBL Flip 4 VS Charge 3 crowns the latter as the better choice, but not by much. It has a lower frequency response which means it produces more bass, so if you are into deeper notes, the Charge 3 won’t disappoint. The larger size also accounts for a larger battery and therefore longer operation time. You can also sync up to 3 different devices to your Charge 3 and enjoy better sound instantly.
For thundering sound, here are the ways to make the speakers louder. Read next!
