As we get the grease back on the wheels of this tech review site, it makes sense to start with some reviews of tech that has lasted throughout hiatus. Spoiler: there are pieces of technology that, if taken care of, will last years and even decades! One such device has proven to be the last thing I reviewed before the long break. So, after seven years, it’s time for to bring back a type of review that I call “Where It Stands”.

So many technology reviews are written in the whirlwind of a product’s release. Far too often, judgement is passed based on a brief encounter with the technology (be it a phone, tablet, streaming box, application, or any other tech that is targeted for the masses).  If you google reviews for the product, the vast majority of the time you will find reviews that are old.  Reviews that were written within a week of the release date (much like my First Impressions reviews).  This Review Category is intended to re-visit something I reviewed early on, in order to see “where it stands” after 6-12 months (or perhaps even years!) of use.  Often tech that looks bad initially improves through software updates.  Sometimes tech that looks great at launch doesn’t hold up over time. So let’s get to it.

JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker

Original Review Date: June 29, 2017

Time used between Original Review and Where it Stands:  7 years, 38 days

Initial Impressions

Since it has been so many years since my first review, I had to go back and read it for myself. Thankfully it was an Elevator Review, which is designed to be a very fast read. I remember how I had hoped to pair this speaker with an early model of the Echo Dot to have a better sounding speaker in my house. The first generation of the Echo Speaker didn’t have the best sound. That experiment failed right out of the gate, but I continued to use the Charge 3 as a portable bluetooth speaker, and it hit the marks once my expectations were modified a bit.

The Tech in Action

The Charge 3 (and I would assume it’s successors the Charge 4 and Charge 5) are exactly what they say they are: high quality bluetooth speakers. They pair quickly with smartphones. I use iPhones exclusively now, but I’m sure they work just fine with Android devices as well. You can swap between devices very easily, so that part is great. The range, which was one of my original requirements, has proven solid as well. I don’t have to set the phone next to the device to maintain a strong signal (and thus no sound drops). Recently I started using a Audio Technica Record Player (probably a review coming down the road) that has bluetooth functionality. The Charge 3, as old as it is, paired immediately with this newer piece of hardware and worked like a charm. The Charge 3 remains our default “patio speaker” when we are hanging out in the backyard too. I don’t use the device for voice calls, so I can’t comment as to how smoothly that works, but that is most likely a pretty niche market, and there are cheaper options to consider for a basic speakerphone (chief among them, just use your phone speaker…).

Where it Stands

Seven years later, I have had no reason to upgrade the Charge 3 Speaker. I did a quick browse of the later models. The Charge 4 is still available, and features an AUX IN option. This allows you to plug a 3.5 jack from a non-bluetooth device. That feature was removed in the current model, the Charge 5.

In the end, a bluetooth speaker needs to do two things: have good sound and be easy to use. I have always been satisfied with JBL products. I reviewed the Clip 2 years ago, and have since upgraded to the Clip 3. Unlike the Charge products the Clip Speaker did get better and justified the upgrade (though maybe not the current Clip 4). When friends come over and want to connect to the speaker, there is no friction. All you need to do is press the bluetooth button on the speaker and add it to your bluetooth devices on your phone, and that’s it. The JBL Flip 6 is also available at a lower price point, but the battery on the Charge models are just too much better for me (20 hours versus 12 hours). I will use the Charge 3 for months between charges with such a large battery, and I can still use it to charge smartphones on the go, which was an original perk as well.

This first “where it stands” hopefully proves the point that some technology doesn’t need to be updated as often as the company that makes them wants you to think. Don’t upgrade for a new color or slightly modified form factor. Upgrades should offer real improvements to the user experience, and after SEVEN YEARS, the Charge 3 continues to be as solid as the day I bought it 2017. So, even though you can’t get that model any longer, perhaps you might want to consider the Charge 4 or 5 that followed it.

For now, the JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker scores a CUP HALF FULL.