The Charge comes in three colors including this gray with white trim, green with white trim and blue with white trim. The ends of the Charge might look like rubber made caps, but they're also made like the rest of the granular, matte textured plastic.
The front side is where the Charge houses its two 38mm full-range audio drivers which are protected and covered with a perforated metal grille similar to the Flip, although the Charge uses less of it in its construction respectively. The entire design is built around the speaker itself in a reinforced and recessed type of design which gives the Charge its seemingly ruggedized exterior. And that's a good thing since the Charge is made with durable grainy plastics which give the Charge a quality sturdy feel when held. It's got a design that visually conveys durability, and indeed it feels more robust than the Flip, however the build quality is neither better or worse. The Charge is less executive-looking than the Flip is, and I really welcome its futuristic-esque pod design. Speaking of similarities, the Charge can also be used standing up or while it rests horizontally. But the Charge does this in a completely redesigned product that looks nothing like the Flip, albeit it does still share the same tube-like shape. As an avid Flip user I think JBL's $150 Charge is not so much the Flip's successor but actually a speaker that answers additional needs that a lot of consumers have.