Short answer: the JBL Charge 6 for the higher ranking, the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen for the lower price. The JBL Charge 6 ranks #11 of 134 medium speakers at $149.95. The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #33 at $129, $20.95 cheaper.
On the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen side: Pretty much identical sounding to the 1st gen. The catch: Not stereo.
The case for the JBL Charge 6: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. The catch: Still some boosted bass by default.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the JBL Charge 6 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #33 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.6" x 2.1" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Max Volume | - | 102dB |
| Power Bank | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 45W |
| USB Audio | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $129.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty much identical sounding to the 1st gen
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail. Self drains the battery about 10% a week.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.6" x 2.1" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen - sound demo
- Tô Thái Trí Hùng: Unbox & Sound Test - Bose Soundlink Flex 2
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen & Soundcore Motion 300 sound test
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech!
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW??
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing M4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing G4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Wisetiger P3
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Miatone Boompro
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Minirig 4
- See all 14 comparisons
- Links
JBL Charge 6: $149.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. Use this EQ from Joy/Oluv and turn down the lowest bass slider for the best sound quality. Oluv has even more paid EQs specifically for the GG and TL models indoors and outdoors here
Cons: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2khz. Quite a V shaped frequency response.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Output Power | 45W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs SoundCore Boom 2 - David vs Goliath
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - basstest (bigger=better?)
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6, Xtreme 4 & Earfun UBoom X - taking sound to the top
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this!
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ?
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Plus vs JBL Charge 6 - fight!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.