Design and build:

JBL Charge 5 and UE Megaboom 3 speakers have cylindrical shape but the Charge 5 is slightly larger. They are highly portable and weighs exactly the same. The Charge 5 is available in more color options so if you like uncommon colors, then you may find it in this speaker. They both have IP67 rating which means they are dust and waterproof.

Overall, the build quality is sturdier in the UE Megaboom 3 as it is drop resistant and can float on water. So, in case it suddenly drops into the pool, you won’t have to worry about it drowning. UE Megaboom 3 has a fabric covered body where a large + and – are engraved for increasing and decreasing volume. A small carrying strap is attached so that you can hang it from any hook.

Performance:

Comparing JBL Charge 5 vs UE Megaboom 3, the Megaboom 3 shows better performance. The speaker has dual 2" full-range drivers and 2" x 3" passive radiators. Inside the JBL Charge 5 you will see 0.75" dome tweeter and 2" x 3.5" woofer along with 2 2.25" passive radiators. The Megaboom 3 can deliver a balanced sound with detailed mids and highs. It uses DSP to optimize the sound and create a balance so that the sound is clear at all volumes.

Unlike the JBL Charge 5, the UE Megaboom 3 can play stereo sound and does not convert it to mono like the Charge 5. Vocals are full and clean sounding, and the instruments sound original. It can produce spatial 360° sound which means the sound will emit from the speaker in all direction equally. This creates a powerful and room-filling sound. Due to this design, the speaker has impressive soundstage and focus. It has got deep bass and you can use the EQ settings to tweak the sound.

Some users prefer JBL Charge 5 over UE Megaboom 3 due to their overall performance. It is a neutral sounding speaker that has good clarity and detail. It has warms highs, clear mids and with an independent woofer, it can produce impactful bass. This speaker plays content in mono mode and has average soundstage. Both these speakers can get quite loud to fill up medium sized rooms. Play the Charge 5 at 60% volume to avoid any distortion.

Overall, it is a good speaker where you have the option to optimize sound with the EQ settings. Although the speaker is directional, it is not as immersive as the 360°design.

Connectivity:

Both these speakers use Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. UE Megaboom 3 can pair up to 8 devices but can remain connected to two devices at once. It has very low latency over Bluetooth but for Android devices only. The Charge 5 has low latency and you can use it to watch movies or videos.

Multiple speaker pairing:

JBL Charge 5 uses PartyBoost and will connect only to other PartyBoost compatible speakers. UE Megaboom 3 can also connect to other speakers. With the PartyUp feature, you can connect up to 150 speakers compared to 100 speakers supported by the JBL PartyBoost. In real life, it is unusual to pair so many and most users pair up to 2 or 3. The following speakers are compatible with PartyUp: BOOM, BOOM 2, BOOM 3, MEGABOOM, MEGABOOM 3 and HYPERBOOM.

Battery life:

Comparing JBL Charge 5 vs UE Megaboom 3, the UE Megaboom 3 has a longer battery life of 18 hours.  JBL Charge 5 can play around 12 to 13 hours. The charging time is also less in the Megaboom 3. It takes 2.75 hours compared to the 4 hours of Charge 5.

Control options:

Physical controls are different in JBL Charge 5 and UE Megaboom 3 speakers. The UE Megaboom 3 has Bluetooth, volume up/down and a Magic button. The Magic button can load playlists, play/pause or go to the next track. It uses the Ultimate Ears Boom app. It has equalizer and preset options. You can also use it to pair other speakers or customize the Magic button to make playlists. You can use it to save Deezer or Apple Music playlists. The app can be used to remotely power on and off the speaker, set alarms, etc.

Compared to this, the JBL app is pretty much simple and has basic functions only. The Charge 5 uses JBL Portable app that comes with graphic EQ settings. In Charge 5, you will see Bluetooth, play/pause, volume up/down and PartyBoost buttons.

 Cost:

JBL Charge 5 vs UE Megaboom 3 price comparison shows that the difference is not much. But the UE Megaboom 3 is cheaper and is available under $150. You can find the Charge 5 under $200.

FAQ:

How to connect UE Megaboom 3 to other devices?

Pairing the UE Megaboom 3 to other devices is simple and easy. Once you switch on the speakers, press the Bluetooth button and wait for a tone. Use the desired device and go to Bluetooth settings. Scan to find the speaker and make sure the speaker and mobile device is within range. Choose the name of the speaker from the list.

What should I do if I hear sound cutting from two JBL Charge 5 speakers?

Make sure there is no interference and check whether the connection is between a single device and speaker. Try restarting the speakers and reconnecting it to the Bluetooth device. Also, place the speakers closer together and make sure the device is withing range.