Short answer: the JBL Charge 6. It ranks #12 of 164 medium speakers at $149.95, while the aging Megaboom 3 ranks #105 at $111.63, only $38.32 less. That is a small price gap for a large difference in how current the hardware is.
The Charge 6 is a real step forward from the Charge 5, though it still isn’t neutral. Its notes describe it as more balanced than the Charge 5, with a flatter response through the mids and treble where the Charge 5 rolled off up high. It still carries some default bass boost, recessed mids, and brightness above 2kHz that gives it a V-shaped signature, but reviewers and the site’s own notes point to third-party EQ presets that clean it up further.
The Megaboom 3’s biggest weakness is its age, not just its sound. It still charges over Micro USB rather than USB-C, a detail its own notes call out directly as a sign the hardware hasn’t been meaningfully updated since its 2018 launch. Sound-wise, its notes describe it as having barely any bass and no stereo output, and while UE markets it as a 360-degree speaker, the notes point out it really only fires front and rear rather than all the way around.
Where the Megaboom 3 still wins is ruggedness and battery life. It is IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to a meter, and its 20-hour battery life is close to double what most speakers this size offer. It also uses omnidirectional dispersion and supports UE’s PartyUp mode for linking up to 50 speakers, both things the Charge 6 doesn’t do.
Everything else favors the newer speaker: the Charge 6 adds AAC codec support, USB-C charging with power bank output, app-based EQ, and a higher IP68 rating.
Buy the JBL Charge 6 for meaningfully better, more current sound and hardware for almost the same money.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 only if 360-degree dispersion, float-proof ruggedness, or linking a large group of speakers together matters more to you than sound quality or up-to-date charging.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $111.63 |
| Ranked | #12 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (990 g) | 2 lbs (925 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Amplifier Power | 45W | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 | Yes |
| 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
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: $111.63 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4, ranked lower, rated 2.1/5.
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life: about double most speakers this size. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2018. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (925 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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