Short answer: the JBL Charge 6 for battery life and control, the Soundcore Boom 3i if you liked the warmer Charge 5 sound for less money. The Charge 6 ranks #11 of 145 medium portable speakers at $149.95. The Boom 3i ranks #29 at $118.99, $30.96 cheaper.
Both speakers are defined by the same predecessor: the JBL Charge 5. The Charge 6’s own pros text says it “seems more neutral than the Charge 5,” with a flatter mid and treble response than that rolled-off older model, though its cons admit it still runs a V-shaped response with boosted bass, recessed mids, and brightness above 2kHz. The Boom 3i takes the opposite approach: its pros describe it as “designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5” with a similar warm, bass-forward tuning, and its own cons say it doesn’t quite match the Charge 5 for loudness or balance, though it comes close. In other words, the Boom 3i chases the old Charge 5 sound while the Charge 6 tries to move past it.
Bass extension is nearly identical, 53Hz on the Charge 6 versus 56Hz on the Boom 3i, so the low-end reach itself isn’t the differentiator here; the tuning philosophy is.
Battery life is the clearest practical gap. The Charge 6 is rated for 24 hours against the Boom 3i’s 16, a real difference if you’re using either at a beach or campsite for a full day. The Charge 6 also adds Auracast party mode and a USB-C digital aux input, both missing from the Boom 3i, while the Boom 3i includes a built-in microphone for calls that the Charge 6 lacks entirely.
One thing worth knowing about the Boom 3i: its own cons note that an earlier firmware shipped with some bass distortion, fixed by updating through the Soundcore app, so make sure any unit you buy is running current firmware.
Buy the JBL Charge 6 if all-day battery life and Auracast matter, and you don’t mind spending time in the EQ (or using a preset like Oluv’s Charge 6 EQ) to tame its V-shaped default tuning.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i if you preferred the warmer Charge 5 sound signature and want it for $30.96 less, and 16 hours of battery is enough for how you’ll use it.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | Soundcore Boom 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $118.99 |
| Ranked | #11 of 145 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 145 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (990 g) | 1.7 lbs (783 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 45W | 50W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
JBL Charge 6: $149.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video 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).
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. IP68 protection, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast, USB-C charging and a power bank output. 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 →
| Amplifier Power | 45W |
|---|---|
| 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” 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this! More from alanrossreviews →
- 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. More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5 More from GYMCADDY →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Soundcore Boom 3i: $118.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. Better value for the money than the Charge 5. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close. An earlier firmware version had some bass distortion, update your firmware in the Soundcore App
Full Soundcore Boom 3i review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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