Short answer: the JBL Charge 6 for sound quality and battery life, the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if you want something smaller and cheaper. They rank #37 and #12 of 179 medium portable speakers, 25 places apart, and the Charge 6 costs $9.05 more.
Neither speaker is neutral, but the Charge 6 is closer. Our notes on the Flex 2nd gen describe it as warm with overly boosted bass that drowns out midrange detail, and it is not stereo. The Charge 6 is flatter through the mids and treble than its predecessor, the Charge 5, though it still runs a V shaped response with recessed mids and some brightness above 2kHz. Both benefit from EQ: the Charge 6 has a 7 band EQ versus the Flex’s 3 band, and there are published EQ presets for the Charge 6 that tame the default bass boost.
The Charge 6 also wins on durability and runtime. It is IP68 rated against the Flex’s IP67, and its 24 hour battery life doubles the Flex’s 12 hours. The Flex also self drains about 10% of its charge per week when not in use, which the Charge 6’s spec sheet does not report as an issue.
What the Flex 2nd gen keeps: a built in microphone for calls, which the Charge 6 lacks, and a significant weight advantage at 1.3 lbs (586 g) versus 2.2 lbs (990 g) for the Charge 6, useful if portability matters more than raw sound.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if you want the lightest, cheapest option and don’t mind a bassier, non-stereo sound signature.
Buy the JBL Charge 6 if sound quality, battery life, and a tougher IP rating matter more than saving $9.05 and shaving off weight.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #37 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 179 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 2.2 lbs (990 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 9” 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 45W |
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