Short answer: the Charge 6, and the SoundLink Plus’s own review argues against itself. It ranks #12 of 179 medium speakers at $149.95; the SoundLink Plus ranks #25 of 120 large speakers at $179, 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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build.
A waterproof medium speaker with a long battery and a power bank output, with more balanced sound than older Charge models.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #25 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 179 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 (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 2.2 lbs (990 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| EQ | No | Yes (7 band) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| 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) |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 45W |
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