Let’s compare the JBL Charge 4 with the JBL Xtreme 2 to help you figure out which JBL Bluetooth speaker is right for you. The JBL Charge 4 and the JBL Xtreme 2 are great speakers with the same functionality and features.
For example, both speakers are IPX7, which means they can withstand up to six feet of water for 30 minutes and are dustproof.
Each speaker supports Bluetooth 4.2, can work with either Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri and can be connected to more than a hundred JBL speakers using the JBL Connect+ feature.
However, there are some differences between the speakers, so let’s dive right into it!
Size and portability
The JBL Xtreme 2 is more than twice the size of the JBL Charge 4. The JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth speaker weighs in at roughly 5.3 pounds, while the JBL Charge 4 checks in at just over two pounds.
And while both devices are cylindrical, the JBL Charge 4 is approximately eight and a half inches long and just under four inches tall and four inches deep, while the JBL Xtreme 2 is just over 11 inches long, over five inches wide, and five inches deep.
That doesn’t sound like a huge difference until you move the devices around. You can pick up the Charge 4 with one hand, but because of the physical size of the Xtreme 2, you’ll have to use two hands to move the device.
That shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but you need to realize this device is built for power and less portability, which is why JBL added two clips at the top for a carrying strap that comes with the device you can use to carry it around.
Additionally, the JBL Charge 4 has a flat stand on the bottom that helps it stay seated, while the JBL Xtreme 2 has feet on each side that keep it in place. Both JBL Bluetooth speakers share the same wire and mesh combination wrapped around the device and rubber bumpers over the device end caps to protect against drops and dings.
Also, both devices feature the standard-issue JBL logo that appears on a metal plate in the front center of the devices. Now, we’ll look at button access.
Button access
On both the JBL Charge 4 and the JBL Xtreme 2, the buttons are located along the top of each device for easy access. And while the controls that are available on each device are the same, the location of the buttons is a little bit different.
Each device has buttons for Bluetooth, volume up and volume down, JBL Connect+, Power, and a Play button along the top. Even so, you can use the Play button to summon either Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri.
However, the JBL Charge 4 has the Bluetooth button next to the Power button in the center, while the JBL Xtreme 2 has the JBL Connect+ button in the center next to the Power button.
Each device has a battery power indicator along the bottom. The battery power indicator is well placed in there, but it’s not in your face all the time.
Sound quality and bass
We did a quick sound test to compare the audio between the JBL Charge 4 and the JBL Xtreme 2. We listened to 10 seconds of the same audio at the same volume level on each device.
The JBL Xtreme 2 pumps out 40 watts of power, while the JBL Charge 4 kicks out 30 watts. And the most important place you feel the power of the Xtreme 2 is in the thumping bass generated through the device’s two three-and-a-half-inch passive bass radiators.
And while the JBL Charge 4 generates crisper, cleaner tones, the JBL Xtreme 2 pays off with deeper sound and mostly satisfying bass that can be a bit overwhelming at times. As a result, the Xtreme 2 sounds excellent outdoors and has no problems carrying well over large areas.
Battery life and available ports
Now let’s talk about power and ports. The JBL Charge 4 takes roughly five and a half hours to charge and delivers nearly 20 hours of audio playback.
The JBL Charge 4 offers a USB Type C port for charging the speaker and a 3.5-millimeter port connecting external devices to your speaker.
You can use JBL Charge 4 to charge other devices through the USB port, which the JBL Flip 4 doesn’t offer.
Alternatively, the JBL Xtreme 2 takes nearly three and a half hours to charge and delivers 15 hours of audio playback. The ports are located on the back of each speaker, concealed behind a rubber flap.
The JBL Xtreme 2 has a slightly different array of ports, offering a power port where you can connect an AC adapter for charging, a regular USB port for charging other devices, and a micro-USB service port.
It’s important to note that the micro-USB port on the Xtreme 2 is intended to be used for firmware updates, and it’s not designed to charge or allow your Bluetooth speaker to interact with other devices.
In the comments below, let me know whether you like the JBL Charge 4 or the JBL Xtreme 2 better.
