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 175 medium portable speakers, 25 places apart, and the Charge 6 costs $39.05 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 $39.05 and shaving off weight.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $119.95 |
| Ranked | #37 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 175 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge 6:
- EarFun Uboom L vs JBL Charge 6
- JBL Charge 6 vs Soundcore Motion 300
- JBL Charge 6 vs Soundcore Motion+
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge 6
- JBL Charge 6 vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $159.00 Amazon $159.00 eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Flex (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5). See every Bose SoundLink Flex, Micro, Max and Plus generation.
Same family: the Bose SoundLink Max (larger model, rated 4.3/5), the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 (larger model, rated 3.6/5) and the Bose SoundLink Plus (larger model, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. The second generation adds a Bose app with 3-band EQ, better-placed controls and stereo pairing with another Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It supports AAC and aptX Adaptive in addition to SBC, making it a stronger wireless option than most small rivals.
Cons: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing. The claimed battery life is only 12 hours, and some owners report accelerated standby drain after firmware updates. It is expensive for its size, so the added app and codec support, not a transformational sound upgrade over the original, are the main reasons to choose it.
Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen & Soundcore Motion 300 sound test
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen - sound demo
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBSONO X-Blast F37 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2 - They all want to be me 😊
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge Essential 3 SE vs BOSE SoundLink FLEX 2 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW?? More from CEONTHEMAKING →
- Tô Thái Trí Hùng: Unbox & Sound Test - Bose Soundlink Flex 2
- Musou1: JBL flip 7 vs KEF muo vs Bose flex 2
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Teufel Rockster XS
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Cleer Audio Scene
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- See all 146 comparisons
JBL Charge 6: $119.95 Amazon $149.95 B&H Photo Video $149.95 Woot $119.95 Lowest eBay
Older models: the JBL Charge 5 (ranked lower, rated 4/5), the JBL Charge 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5), the JBL Charge 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Charge 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5). See every JBL Charge generation.
Pros: Seems more neutral than the JBL Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the JBL 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. IP68 protection, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast, USB-C charging and a power bank output. With EQ it beat the Marshall Stockwell III in Alan Ross’s live A/B. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2kHz. Quite a V shaped frequency response.
Full JBL Charge 6 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 45W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 9” 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (990 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test More from Oluv’Sone →
- 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
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Xiaomi Sound Party - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ?
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Plus vs JBL Charge 6 - fight!
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross: JBL Charge 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Party – Honest No-BS Comparison
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 3 Unboxing (live stream)
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz. More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge Essential 3 SE vs Charge 6 Opinion in Subtitles
- YARNZO Tech: Zealot P12 Vs Jbl Charge 6 full sound comparison More from YARNZO Tech →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5 More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Vs Sony ULT Field 3 - Honestly, This One Is Super Tough
- The Tech Files: Uma CHARGE 6 pela METADE do PREÇO! - Zealot S85 (Unboxing/Review)
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