There are many pretenders to the throne right now, but in truth, there can be only one king. In terms of the best Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Charge 5 is the undisputed monarch, picking up multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards and impressing us as the most reliable, well-made and sonically rewarding speaker of its type. Few rivals or contemporaries really come close.
That said, the Charge 5 is getting on a bit. Originally released in early 2021, it's now been three years since we saw a new addition to what is arguably JBL's finest portable speaker line out there. The Charge 5 Wi-Fi released last year may have sated appetites for the time being, and while it's a great, five-star performer, the Wi-Fi is more of a spin-off than a full-blown sequel.
