Short answer: the Charge 6, and the SoundLink Plus’s own review argues against itself. It ranks #11 of 135 medium speakers at $199.95; the SoundLink Plus ranks #22 of 76 large speakers at $269.00, a weaker relative placement despite the size step up.
Our own cons entry for the SoundLink Plus is unusually direct. Boosted, thuddy bass that isn’t as deep as the cheaper Soundlink Flex, and the notes add you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose at all.
The Charge 6 is described as more neutral than the Charge 5 it replaced, with a flatter response through the mids and treble, though it still carries some boosted bass by default and gets bright above 2kHz.
Buy the Charge 6 for the better measured sound. Buy the SoundLink Plus only if you’re set on this specific Bose model despite what our own notes say about it.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #22 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (up to 2 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| EQ | No | Yes (7 band) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 45W |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Max Volume | - | 102dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| USB Audio | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $269.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $269.
Cons: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (up to 2 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- 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.