JBL Charge 5 Battery Life

The battery level meter gauge showing a full charge on the JBL Charge 5 Speaker.

The JBL Charge 5 battery life we discuss in terms of how long the speaker plays after a full charge. Or, how long the battery lasts before replacement becomes necessary.

Front left view of the JBL Charge 5.

JBL Charge 5 Battery Life: Per Charge

How long should the battery last? The built in lithium ion battery lasts up to twenty (20) hours per full charge. Note that this time varies depending on how loud you play the speaker. The ambient temperature around the speaker, and the type of audio you’re listening to also affects this. Charging external devices like phones and tablets with this speaker also shortens its battery life.

JBL Charge 5 Battery Life: Before Replacement

How Many Full Charges Should the Battery Take ?

The battery should provide at least 500 charge-discharge cycles before its performance begins to degrade. To get the most cycles from it, take care not to store the unit in temperature extremes. Also, avoid leaving the speaker in the dead state. And do not leave the charger connected for long once charging is complete.

Signs of a Bad Battery

The JBL Charge 5 Takes Too Long to Charge

Using a large enough USB-C cable, the battery should fully charge in under four (4) hours. Now it may take longer if your charger provides less than fifteen watts (5 volts at 3 amps). However if these are hefty enough, yet recharging takes too much longer, then the battery failure may be to blame.

The JBL Charge 5 Doesn’t Play as Long as it Should

You may also notice that your speaker doesn’t play as long as it did when new. This is another sign of a battery that is nearing the end of life.

The JBL Charge 5 Distorts or Shuts Off at Higher Volumes

When you raise the volume, particularly on music that has lots of bass, you may hear crackling or other distortion. Or, the speaker may cut out or power down when a deep bass drum thump occurs in the music. This could mean that the battery, even at full charge, can no longer provide enough current for correct speaker operation. Again, this may mean that replacing the battery is necessary.

The Battery Gauge Gives Wrong Readings

The gauge may show that the speaker has full, or nearly full charge. But yet, it goes dead within minutes of reading the indicator. This is a common symptom when useable battery life is fading.

JBL Charge 5 Battery Life: How to Get the Longest Life

Exercise the battery ! That is, charge it all the way, and discharge it all the way. The power management system in this speaker seems robust. It well protects the battery from over charging or complete draining.

However, we suggest that you do not leave the speaker on the charger once full. Also, when the battery does run low, do not leave it in this deadened state for long. Instead, recharge your speaker as soon as possible, as these batteries hate being dead. A long-dead battery often results in a ruined battery.

Front right view of the speaker.

JBL Charge 5 Battery Life: Conclusion

Replacing the battery in the JBL Charge 5 usually fixes the above mentioned issues. However, only replace with a battery of similar type — preferably the same make and part number as the original.

Finally, you can often avoid ever having to replace the battery due to shortened battery life. How? Keep some charge in your speaker. Plus, exercise it as well. This provides the most deep charge-discharge cycles from it in our years of experience with these devices.