JBL Charge 2 Review

With the previous generation of their portable Bluetooth speakers, JBL made a clear distinction between the functionality of the Charge and Flip model, but with Charge 2 the two models gets fused together. Sort of.

The original Charge was equipped with a really good battery and let you charge other devices like phones and tablets, while the Flip offered the possibility to conduct phone calls using the built-in microphone. Therefore, despite having approximately the same size and price, the two devices offered different features, and the customers had to opt for either one or the other depending on their needs. The new Charge 2 is kind of a merger of the two models, while still keeping the visual look of its predecessor. The large frame grille is now gone, and the mesh grille covering the speaker drivers is significantly larger. The ends of the cylindrical housing are not as deep to accommodate the passive radiators, and the overall look is now more sleeker.

The markings (buttons) on the top panel is another indication of the increased functionality, which in addition to the power button and volume control now has commands for managing phone calls and pause music playback. There is a completely new function called 'Social Mode', which allows you to connect and play music from three different Bluetooth sources. Like the previous generation, the battery level is displayed with five discrete LEDs.

The technology on the inside has also been improved, and Charge 2 is now equipped with an amplifier of seven watts per channel (compared to five watts on the previous model), and under the solid metal mesh grille are two broadband transducers with a diameter of 45 millimeters. Also, the sides are now housing flat aluminum passive radiators of the same diameter. All this has resulted in lowering the limit of the frequency band from 150 to 75 hertz, which is a remarkable improvement. In addition, the USB-A output has been moved to the lower part of the back, next to the micro-USB port for charging the battery and an optional analog audio 3.5mm input jack.

So, How Is The Upgrade?

During testing, I noticed one thing that might be considered a minus; a lack of proper buttons for volume control. Charge 2 uses what I guess you´d call 'touch' buttons, and although they are completely integrated into the surface of the control section on the top using symbols (and is more aesthetically pleasing), it doesn´t have the same tactile feeling as the previous model and is perhaps not the best solution from an ergonomic standpoint. This is of course a matter of taste, but it is the only thing I can find that bothers me, really. Anyway, the added speakerphone function, which allows phone calls without reaching for the phone with commands to answer and end a call, and the impressive battery capacity that allows you to use the speaker for 12 hours and also recharge a phone or tablet makes the minor flaws I found insignificant.