JBL Charge 6 review: JBL's got greatness playing on repeat
Price: $199 / £149 / (approx. AU$310)Colors: Black, Blue, Funky, Pink, Purple, Red, Sand, Squad, WhiteSize: 9.0 x 3.9 x 3.7 inchesWeight: 2.17 poundsBattery life (rated): 28 hoursConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and AACDurability: IP68-rated
JBL makes some solid wireless earbuds and headphones (Tom's Guide recommends the 4-star Live 770NC), but its portable speakers are even better and more coveted. The all-new JBL Charge 6 follows suit with notable improvements that elevate this carriable bass-blaster to top contender status.
The speaker delivers vibrant sound that can be customized through the JBL Portable app (iOS/Android) while additions such as an artificial intelligence sound mode and lossless audio really impress sonically. A full charge was enough for me to entertain crowds for an entire weekend, and I also really liked that the Charge 6 doubled as a power bank to juice up handheld devices and play music simultaneously.
Sadly, however, digital assistance and a speakerphone are MIA. The lack of backwards compatibility may also be a dealbreaker for those who already own previously released JBL speakers. The new Playtime Boost battery-saver mode also requires you to make a sacrifice on the audio quality front.
Despite those minor issues, though, the Charge 6 is an excellent value and one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy under $200.
You can purchase this speaker for $199 / £149 / AU$310 directly from the JBL website or at online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.
The speaker is available in nine colors: Black, Blue, Funky Black (with neon pink and blue accents), Pink, Purple, Red, Sand, Squad (aka camo), and White (pictured above).
The variety of bright and bold colorways is something you won't find on many competitors and I think the Miami-Vice-inspired Funky Black design looks awesome.
JBL portable speakers are built with durability in mind: The Charge 6 is composed of hard post-consumer recycled plastic and dons a rugged woven fabric wrap that protects the drivers. IP68 certification keeps the speaker drop-, dust-, and waterproof up to 1.5 meters submersion for 30 minutes.
It's not something you'll want to want to submerge for hours at a time, but know it'll survive an accidental drop in the water.
The Charge Series' signature details like the embossed logo and physical buttons on the top remain present in the Charge 6.
While the Charge 6 weighs about the same as the Charge 5 (est. 2.2 lbs.), it is heavier than most other handheld speakers like the Beats Pill (1.49 lbs.) and Sonos Roam 2 (0.93 lbs.). Luckily, it isn't cumbersome to lug around, thanks to the removeable handle strap.
The strap isn't the highest quality, but it's dependable for transporting the Charge 6 from one location to another and the speaker's sturdy shell should assure you that it won't break if the strap doesn't hold up.
The control scheme is a simple one: All controls are placed on the top. The playback button is flanked between the volume buttons. Above them is a flat backlit control strip with three buttons: Bluetooth, power on/off, and Auracast. Each button produces solid tactility and responds to intended commands.
You'll need the buttons, as the Charge 6 does not come with voice assistance. (For comparison, the Beats Pill supports Siri and Google Assistant.)
Thankfully, connectivity remains a strong point for the series. Range extends to about 40 feet before stuttering. You can pair two Charge 6 speakers together through Auracast for stereo sound or pair up to 100 Auracast-enabled JBL speakers at once.
The Charge 6 isn't backwards compatible. In other words, you can't pair it with the Charge 5 or any JBL models programmed with Party Boost. Also, multipoint technology is absent, so you can't pair the speaker to two media devices at the same time.
I loved the bassy, full-powered sound that the Charge 5 dished out. JBL's latest speaker is just as dynamic on the audio front and hosts a handful of features that heighten the listening experience.
Bass is impactful right out of the box. JBL's 20mm tweeter and newly designed woofer transmit deep lows to your ears, along with crisp mids and highs. Instruments sound more distinctive, and vocals have more depth.
Bangers like Travis Scott's 'Butterfly Effect' reverberate with intensity. The Charge 6 doesn't hold back on the track's immense boom effects and synths, which create a euphoric vibe the longer you're immersed in the track. I thought the heavily emphasized low end would create mass distortion, but that wasn't the case.
Despite its reliance on thumpy sound, the Charge 6 demonstrates fantastic frequency range. The tinny hi-hats on Tupac's 'I Get Around' remain transparent over the prominent and punchy snares, while chill reggae bops like Q's 'be with ya' have resonant midrange that make the singer's falsettos more impactful and personal.
Live performances are equally satisfying to hear — Fleetwood Mac's rendition of 'Everywhere' at Warner Brothers Studios made for a serene listen.
Employing the customizable EQ or pre-engineered presets will either increase or decrease quality, depending on recordings.
The default Signature gets you the most balanced sound. Chill brings the bass levels down a few notches and Energetic raises them higher, causing minor distortion at high volume. Another feature that can affect output is Playtime Boost, a new mode that prioritizes power preservation over sound quality.
JBL's AI Sound Boost mode adjusts sound in real time based on your listening environment and is mostly effective. Anyone with detailed hearing can pick up on the clearer-sounding lows and mids.
Lossless audio is becoming more common on wireless Bluetooth speakers. I loved testing the feature on the Beats Pill and found it just as enticing on the Charge 6. The differences in clarity and depth are obvious when it's connected to a wired device.
One speaker is enough to fill an entire room with loud, engaging sound, and connecting two or more speakers (up to 100) creates broader 360-degree sound.
The JBL Portable app is easy to navigate, looks attractive, and provides access to some features. I already touched on big ones: AI Sound Boost, Auracast connectivity, custom EQ, lossless audio, multi-speaker connectivity, and presets.
Other extras include a battery level indicator, firmware updates, and the Playtime Boost mode. Everything you need is in the app.
A full charge gives you up to 24 hours of battery life – the same as the Beats Pill. This is more than enough listening time for a weekend's worth of day parties. Bear in mind that high volume and special features reduce playtime by about 3 to 4 hours. Even then, you're given plenty of power to keep jams bumping at the family cookout.
Playtime Boost mode extends listening time to 28 hours. Turning it on will decrease sound quality; I noticed a huge dip in bass response.
The Charge 6 lets you recharge portable devices, including MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, and your dead portable chargers. Its built-in battery isn't powerful enough for laptops.
According to JBL, a 10-minute quick charge nets you 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of use.
There is no denying the Charge 6's greatness. Updates to audio performance, battery life, connectivity, and portability cement it as a top pick for brand loyalists and consumers who want a speaker that sounds as robust as it looks. AI Sound Boost does an impressive job optimizing playback based on surrounding ambient noise, while lossless audio results in hi-fi bliss over USB-C connection. Longer playtimes and widespread pairing of up to 100 speakers make this a terrific mini party speaker.
Still, I think it's not the be all, end all of Bluetooth speakers. It's baffling why there wouldn't be a speakerphone or voice assistance on a sixth-gen product. Not having a USB-C cable bundled with the purchase is chintzy, especially when JBL is pushing lossless audio, which requires the accessory. Not having backwards compatibility with last-gen speakers also feels like a betrayal to fans who've already invested heavily in JBL's wireless audio ecosystem.
Those who own the Charge 5 are within their right to stick with it since the speaker holds up well against the competition, though everyone else will want to consider picking up the Charge 6 for its futureproofing and premium perks that are unavailable on older JBL models.
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