Short answer: buy the Charge 6. It moves from #30 to #12 in a 177-speaker class for $35 more, and the reason is worth understanding.
The bass is identical. Both reach 53 Hz. If you were expecting the newer model to dig deeper, it does not, and anyone selling you the upgrade on bass is wrong.
What actually changed is the tuning. The Charge 5 is noticeably rolled off in the treble; the Charge 6 has a flatter response through the mids and treble. That single change is worth 18 ranking places, which is a useful illustration of how much of a speaker’s measured quality is DSP rather than hardware. Both are still V-shaped by default with boosted bass and recessed mids, and both respond well to a reviewer EQ preset. The Charge 6 gives you seven bands to work with against the Charge 5’s three.
The other differences are small but one-directional: IP68 against IP67, 24 hours of battery against 20, 45 W against 40, and marginally more weight.
The one that might decide it for you is pairing. The Charge 5 uses PartyBoost; the Charge 6 uses Auracast. They do not talk to each other. If you already own PartyBoost speakers and want them to play together, that is an argument for a second Charge 5, not a Charge 6.
Buy the Charge 5 only if you find it heavily discounted and you already own PartyBoost speakers. Otherwise the Charge 6 is better for a modest premium.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
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 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| JBL Charge 5 | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #30 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 2.2 lbs (990 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 45W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz.
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