Short answer: the JBL Charge 6, since the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 has barely any bass. The Lifejacket 3 has tank-like build quality that reviewers froze, dropped and buried in sand, but it is called pathetic sounding, with barely any bass and distortion when a lot of bass is present. The Charge 6 is more neutral than the Charge 5, though it still boosts bass by default with recessed mids and brightness above 2kHz.
Buy the JBL Charge 6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $47.19 you would save on the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Seems more neutral than the JBL Charge 5.
Amazon $149.95 B&H Photo Video $149.95 Woot $119.95 Lowest eBay
Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues.
Amazon $72.76 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 | $72.76 |
| Ranked | #12 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #170 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (990 g) | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 8” x 3.8” x 4.2” (203.2 x 96.5 x 106.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Amplifier Power | 45W | 80W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (mounting clip) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge 6: