A Battle Between Two Durable Flagships
The Bose SoundLink Flex and JBL Charge 5 are two popular waterproof Bluetooth speakers with durable and portable designs, ideal for the outdoors. While they share much of the same ethos, they also have distinct differences which make them better suited to specific tasks. In this comparison, we’ll look at what they have in common, how they differ, and how this impacts buyers looking for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker.

Winner
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is better for most purposes, it has more clarity, better battery life, and more modern Bluetooth.
Bose SoundLink Flex vs JBL Charge 5
Model | SoundLink Flex | Charge 5 |
Release Date | 2021 | 2021 |
Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
Output Power | 12W | 40W |
Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
Battery Life | Up to 12 Hours | Up to 20 Hours |
Frequency Response | 60Hz – 20kHz | 60Hz – 20kHz |
Multispeaker Pairing | Yes | Yes |
Weight | 1.2 lbs | 2 lbs |
Dimensions | 2.05 x 7.91 x 3.54″ | 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67″ |
App Support | Yes | Yes |
Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
Summary: The Charge 5 and SoundLink Flex are both durable speakers suitable for the outdoors, however, the SoundLink Flex’s impact resistance and more compact design makes it a better choice for frequent outdoor trips.
Durability
Winner: Bose SoundLink Flex
Both speakers are designed for outdoor use and have comprehensive water resistance with durable builds.
The Charge 5 has a fabric material that covers most of the speaker, helping to protect the inner plastic from damage. It also features durable rubber ends near the bass radiators.
The SoundLink Flex, on the other hand, has a large area of rubber protection that covers much of the speaker except the metal grille. It comes with an impact resistance rating, meaning it’s been drop-tested. This isn’t offered by the Charge 5 and gives Bose the edge when it comes to overall durability.
Portability
Winner: Bose SoundLink Flex
The Charge 5 is slightly larger than the SoundLink Flex and weighs 0.8 lbs more (2 lbs vs 1.2 lbs), but is still easy to carry in one hand or be placed in a backpack. Since it doesn’t have a built-in carry rope, it benefits from third-party carry covers.
Bose’s SoundLink Flex has a much narrower profile, making it easier to carry by hand, and more likely to be able to fit into smaller bags. The SoundLink Flex also has the benefit of a built-in carry loop which can be paired with a carabiner to attach it to just about anything.
Both speakers can be taken on hikes, picnics, or other adventures – but the Flex can do so while being slightly less taxing than the Charge.
Waterproofing
Winner: Tied
Both speakers are waterproof and come with an IP67 rating, meaning they are not only protected from water damage but also offer dust resistance. You can use these speakers in the rain or around the pool without risk of damage. They can withstand submergence in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Controls, Connectivity & App Support
Summary: Although both speakers have app support, the JBL Portable app is more comprehensive than Bose Connect, allowing for EQ adjustments. On the other hand, the Flex has the benefit of being able to skip tracks backward, a feature not provided by the Charge 5. The Charge 5’s Bluetooth connectivity is significantly better than the Bose, with less latency and better range.
Inputs/Outputs
Winner: JBL Charge 5
While neither speaker is particularly well-suited to wired connections, the Charge 5 has the advantage of a USB-A port which can be used to charge your phone. The SoundLink Flex doesn’t have any ports other than the charging port.
Multispeaker Pairing
Winner: Tied
Multi-speaker pairing can be used to connect two or more speakers, either in a stereo pair or as a general group pairing. Both the Charge 5 and SoundLink Flex support multi-speaker pairing.
The Charge 5 supports general multi-speaker pairing using PartyBoost while the SoundLink Flex uses ‘Party Mode‘ for its general group pairing. Both can be paired together with other supporting models too.
Which Speakers Can The SoundLink Flex and Charge 5 Be Paired With?
Bose SoundLink Flex | JBL Charge 5 |
SoundLink Flex | Charge 5 |
SoundLink Color II | Flip 6 |
SoundLink Micro | Pulse 5 |
Bose S1 Pro System | Xtreme 3 |
SoundLink Revolve | Xtreme 4 |
SoundLink Revolve Plus | Boombox 2 |
SoundLink Revolve Plus II |
To improve the soundstage of either speaker you can pair them in TWS (True Wireless Stereo) mode, with another speaker of the same model. This will turn one speaker into a left channel and another into a right channel.
Controls
Winner: Bose SoundLink Flex
The controls on the Charge 5 and SoundLink Flex are situated on the top of the speaker and are easy to access during use.
The SoundLink Flex has slightly more powerful controls and its ability to skip tracks backwards is a feature the Charge 5 lacks. These are the on-speaker controls offered by each model.
SoundLink Flex | Charge 5 | |
Play/Pause | Yes | Yes |
Skip FWD | Yes | Yes |
Skip Back | Yes | No |
Vol Up | Yes | Yes |
Vol Down | Yes | Yes |
Calls | Yes | No |
Bluetooth
Winner: JBL Charge 5
Even though these speakers were both released in the same year, the Charge 5 has more modern Bluetooth support. It supports Bluetooth 5.1, compared with Bluetooth 4.2 on the Bose SoundLink Flex.
The newer technology results in less latency and better range than the SoundLink Flex. The Charge 5 can hold a stable connection for between 30 and 50 feet more than the SoundLink Flex, which is limited to around 230 feet; which is still impressive.
Bluetooth 5.1 has improved codecs which determine how effectively the audio data can be compressed and transferred between the source device and the speaker.
Mobile App
Winner: JBL Charge 5
Both the SoundLink Flex and Charge 5 have companion apps where you can view details like remaining battery life or connect the speaker in TWS or multispeaker pairing.
The JBL Portable app is more comprehensive than the Bose Connect and gives the Charge 5 the benefit of having a customizable EQ where you can dial in the bass, treble, and midrange. In contrast, the Bose Connect app doesn’t provide EQ support for the SoundLink Flex.
Audio Performance
Summary: Both speakers sound great for their size, but there are distinct differences in their sound profile. The Charge 5 is more bright, with vocals and other midrange sounds coming across prominently. The Bose SoundLink Flex has a slightly deeper-sounding bass but lacks the midrange definition afforded by the Charge’s separate tweeter. It is also slightly louder than the Flex.
Sound Quality
Winner: Tied
When comparing sound quality, we’re looking at the frequency response (how balanced, bassy, or bright it sounds), soundstage (the separation of sound that makes songs sound immersive), clarity (the level of distortion and artifacts), and dynamics (the amount of nuance the speaker can reproduce and how it retains this detail as the volume is increased).
There’s no clear winner when it comes to audio performance between these two speakers. That’s because they have different sounds that will appeal to different people.
JBL’s Charge 5 has a full-range driver and a separate tweeter, which makes it sound brighter than the SoundLink Flex, meaning there’s more detail in the mids, making vocals sound clearer. Its bass isn’t as deep-sounding as the SoundLink Flex, but it has more punch to it.
The SoundLink Flex on the other hand has a single full-range driver, which has a deeper bass than the Charge 5, which is great for those seeking low bass in a small speaker. However, it limits the amount of detail in tracks when compared to the Charge.
Which Is Louder?
Soundstage and dynamics are similar on both speakers, but the Charge 5 sounds a bit wider because of its separate tweeter. Similarly, it can get slightly louder than the SoundLink Flex, but even the Flex can produce around 88dB, enough to fill a kitchen, bedroom, or moderately sized dining room. It also retains a bit more clarity at high volume levels compared to the Flex.
The SoundLink Flex has a cool feature where it dynamically adjusts the EQ depending on how it faces (driver up or to the side).
Battery / Power
Summary: The JBL Charge is a more powerful speaker and has a 40W output compared to the 12W by the SoundLink Flex. However, the Charge 5 still provides close to double the amount of playtime than the SoundLink Flex. Compared to competitors like the Marshall Emberton II that provide over 20 hours of playtime, neither speaker’s battery performance is awe-inspiring.
Battery Life
Both speakers use a USB-C port for charging. The JBL Charge 5 has significantly more battery life, with around 13 hours of actual playtime at 50% volume compared to around 6.5 hours on the SoundLink Flex. Given its smaller battery capacity, the Flex charges in around an hour shorter than the Charge 5.
Power-saving features on both devices will help to promote longer battery life when not in use.
If you need more playtime than the SoundLink Flex has to offer, you can also consider the new Bose SoundLink Max, which provides closer to 15 hours of playtime.
Which Should I Buy?
If you’re going to be using the speaker primarily for outdoor use like hiking or camping, the Bose SoundLink Flex is the better choice because of its lighter weight, smaller size, and built-in carry loop. The fact that it has an impact rating also adds to its durability.
On the other hand, the JBL Charge 5 is better suited for day-to-day in and around the house, or for occasional outdoor use like picnics, beach trips, and sessions around the campfire. It is also very durable, with water resistance and dust protection. It can get louder than the Flex and has significantly more playtime.

Winner
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is better for most purposes, it has more clarity, better battery life, and more modern Bluetooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many watts is the JBL Charge 5?
The JBL Charge 5 has an output of 40W.
How loud is the JBL Charge 5?
The Charge 5 produces about 90dB, enough to fill a medium-sized room or entertain a group of 5 to 10 friends.
How long does it take the JBL Charge 5 to charge?
Charging takes around 3.5 hours to charge.
Is the Charge 5 louder than the SoundLink Flex?
Yes, it is. It produces around 2 decibels more volume.
How loud is the SoundLink Flex?
The SoundLink Flex produces around 88dB, slightly less than the Charge 5.