The JBL Charge 6 has some big shoes to fill. Its predecessor, the Charge 5, consistently got high marks for its durability, utility, endurance, and of course, its audio performance. Thankfully, the Charge 6 has things well in hand. The speaker is currently one of the most durable Bluetooth speakers on the market. And as the name suggests, you can still top off your smartphone or tablet when its battery’s low. Speaking of battery, the Charge 6 now packs a full day of charge plus four hours with the Playtime Boost feature, and it’s got fast charge. And with Auracast, the Charge 6 can share audio with an unlimited number of devices.
And what about that audio? Accused in past iterations of being a bass monster, the Charge 6 takes a more measured approach to audio. Yes, the bass is definitely there, with the ability to send tiny little aural shivers down your spine. But it’s not so much that the mids and lows get lost. In fact, the Charge 6 presents a fairly balanced performance with a generous soundstage. Are there moments when there’s a little distortion? Sure, but they’re few and far between, which is impressive, especially for a speaker this size that only costs $180.
In short, if you’re looking for a portable speaker that’s big on both sound and value, you owe it to yourself to check out the JBL Charge 6.
JBL Charge 6
The JBL Charge 6 offers impressive audio performance with nearly 30 hours of battery life
Pros
- Cute, super durable design
- Powerful audio despite its size
- Excellent battery life
- Can charge some mobile devices
- Unlimited audio share with Auracast
Cons
- The highs and mids can get distorted at max volume
Pricing and availability
The Charge 6 is available for pre-order now on JBL’s website for $200 with a ship date of April 6. That price point puts the JBL on a par with the UE Megaboom 4 ($200) and the Sonos Roam 2 ($180). The Bose Soundlink Max is a pricier proposition at $400.
Design
With its handle attached, the Charge 6 looks like a funky purse, to the point where I can envision myself dressed to the nines carrying it as such. Just like its little brother, the Flip 7, the Charge 6 is an environmentally friendly piece of tech. The black fabric exterior is made from 100% recycled fabric, while the plastic throughout the device comprises 85% post-consumer recycled plastic. And with a durability rating of IP68, it’s one of toughest S.O.B.s on the market. In addition to being water and dust proof, the speaker can withstand drops of up to 1 meter onto concrete or hardwood.
Like its predecessors, the Charge 6 has the JBL logo prominently displayed on the front. Outlined in red, the lettering has an almost 3D-like effect. The speaker’s endcaps are made of semi-transparent plastic with a big, honking exclamation mark. Just above the JBL logo are raised, hard plastic buttons for volume control and play/pause with a small console for Auracast, power, and Bluetooth. The two divots flanking the buttons are a clear giveaway on where the strap is attached. I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried about the thin plastic strip holding the strap in place, but I’ve shaken the bejesus out of this thing with no ill effects.
There’s a USB-C port in the back that you can use to either charge the speaker or a device that’s running low on juice—hence the name. You can connect the Charge 6 to a laptop, smartphone, or tablet and get some Lossless audio going if you’re an audiophile with discerning tastes. Finally, there’s a pair of feet along the bottom to keep it from toppling over.
Weighing 33.8 ounces, the 9 x 3.9 x 3.7-inch Charge 6 is a chunky thing. It’s not as hefty as the Soundlink Max (4.7 x 10.4 x 4.13 inches) which weighs 78.4 ounces. Still, the Megaboom 4 (8.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches) and Roam 2 (6.6 x 2.4 x 2.36 inches) are lighter at 32.98 and 15.2 ounces.
Features
What’s better than one speaker? Two speakers, of course. I’ve got good news for those looking to expand their speaker’s power. The Charge 6 can pair with another Charge 6 via the PartyTogether feature in the free JBL Portable app for some stereo action. And if you don’t have another Charge 6, the technology should work with any PartyTogether-compatible JBL speakers. Plus, since this is an Auracast device, the Charge 6 can broadcast to an unlimited number of compatible devices, provided they’re in range.
Another prime feature the companion app offers is Playtime Boost, which disables the equalizer while boosting the volume. This results in approximately four additional hours of battery life, which comes in handy for those marathon session parties. And speaking of the EQ, there are four distinct equalizer settings in addition to a custom one you can tweak yourself. Of the options, most people will probably leave it on JBL Signature, which is the default setting.
Performance
Cuteness aside, the Charge 6 isn’t to be taken lightly. JBL’s been tweaking with the formula, retooling the kit with some of “the best engineers” in order to deliver the “most realistic sound reproduction yet.” The company also added its proprietary AI Boost tech, which delivers optimal audio performance with the least amount of distortion by analyzing your music in real time. I spent two hours streaming from my main Spotify playlist, swapping between a plethora of genres to get a real feel of the speaker’s capabilities. And the Charge 6 did not disappoint.
When I started streaming music to the Charge 6, a song came to mind, EnVogue’s “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” because JBL did exactly that. Whether I was listening to Janelle Monae’s “Yoga,” “Bring Me Joy,” The Layabouts and Portia Monique collab, or Durand Bernarr’s “Impact,” I felt that bass.
The speaker’s powerful vibrations traveled through my desk into my hands and gently caressed my spine. It’s a nice sensation. But in the midst of that, never did the lows get so aggressive that they submerged the rest of the track. On the contrary, in most cases the Charge 6 employs a nice, wide soundstage that allows just about every piece of a composition to do their thing. I had no problem hearing the tiny plosives from Alanis Morissette on the quieter parts of “Ironic.” And Sleepy Brown’s hypnotic baritone seductively oozed from the speaker during “Oh Ho Hum.”
There were a couple of missteps, however. A little harsh on the highs, as demonstrated on Kendrick Lamar’s “heart pt. 6”—the strings sounded congested, I almost lost the organ in the background. It was a similar story with the background vocals on No Doubt’s classic “Spiderwebs.” Still, smaller audio points like claps, maracas, trilling keys, and snaps were fully present.
Battery life
I was pleased to see the Charge 6 shipped with 65% battery life. JBL estimates the Charge 6’s 4,722mAH battery can last a full day playing music. And if you throw in Playtime Boost, that time jumps to 28 hours, which is quite impressive. Without Playtime Boost enabled, I managed to run the Charge 6 down in 23 hours and 42 minutes at 50% volume. And when it’s time to charge the speaker, it should only take three hours to achieve a full charge. If you’re strapped for time, 10 minutes will get you 150 minutes of music playback, give or take.
The Charge 6 has that moniker for a reason. Because in addition to pumping out a tasty lick or two, the speaker can also charge a smartphone or tablet. Unfortunately, it can’t top off your laptop. It’s a cool wishlist feature, especially for anyone who plans to tap into the Lossless audio feature when plugged in.
Verdict
As cute as the JBL Charge 6 is, I wouldn’t fault you for assuming it has subpar sound. I would, however, fault you for not going beyond your preconceived notions and taking a listen. Because you’d be missing out on one of the best Bluetooth speakers of the year. And friends don’t let friends miss out on great tech.
Hidden beneath that unassuming fabric shell are a powerful mix of woofers, tweeters, and traducers that manage to produce audio that’s mostly clean, warm, and balanced. And yes, it’s ‘mostly,’ because in a speaker this size, there are going to be some instances where the highs and mids might come in a little hot or the bass gets a little aggressive. But those moments are few and fleeting with the help of JBL’s AI Boost technology.
And then you have ancillary features like Auracast that can turn the speaker into a broadcaster capable of sharing audio with an unlimited number of devices. And for those marathon listening sessions, the Charge can last for almost 30 hours and get right back to jamming with a 10-minute recharge. It can top off a device or two with its built-in powerbank. And when it’s time to go outside, the Charge 6 is tough enough for a little misadventure.
If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that’s tough, powerful, and goes easy on your wallet, the JBL Charge 6 stands heads above the competition.
