The JBL Charge 6, released in 2025, is the latest in JBL’s popular Charge lineup of portable speakers. It builds on the Charge 5, featuring enhancements such as AI Sound Boost, Auracast multi-speaker pairing, and an improved IP68 dust and water resistance rating. The speaker can also double as a power bank to charge your devices via USB-C, and it comes with a convenient carrying strap. Plus, it’s available in multiple colors, so you can match it to your style.
Our Verdict: 7.8 / 10
Charge 6 is great for outdoor use. It’s lightweight, portable, and tough enough to handle dust, water, and accidental drops. The battery lasts approximately 14 hours, or up to 19 hours if you use the Playtime Boost feature. While it doesn’t get loud enough to fill a large garden or deliver deep bass, it still produces warm, immersive sound. You can also adjust the sound using the 7-band EQ in the companion app. Keep in mind that stereo audio is downmixed to mono unless paired with another speaker, and treble can sound slightly different depending on your listening angle. Even with these minor drawbacks, the JBL Charge 6 does its job well as a portable, everyday speaker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can connect to two devices at the same time | Downmixes stereo audio to mono |
| IP68 dust and water resistant | Audio can compress at max volume |
| Lightweight and highly portable | |
| Acts as a battery pack for other devices | |
| Convenient carrying strap |