JBL Charge 6: Review

In all honesty, JBL doesn't need to keep releasing portable speakers.

They've become a cornerstone of quality and each one sounds as good as the last. But it's not a surprise the company has chosen to release a mini version of what was essentially one of the chunkiest speakers it ever, the JBL Boombox 3.

But the Charge 6 device, while coming out of the box with one of its most egregious oversights in the lack of a charging cable, still proves to be one of the best portable devices out there thanks to robust sound and also robust design.

Just a little bigger than a normal-sized hand, the Charge 6 is easy to carry and even though it comes with a strap that can turn it into even more portability, it can sit perfectly still on a shelf or outside, revelling in its own relative anonymity. 

The black unit that was tested for the purposes of this review is a testament to how subtle it can look when it wants. With just a modest JBL logo and a volume, power and Bluetooth buttons on show, it's relatively incongruous. With speakers on its edges vibrating with the sound and bass, the unit simply has a way of blending in - but don't mistake that for any indication that it doesn't provide a decent quality of output.

With songs like the Eagles' Journey of The Sorcerer or Alabama 3's seminal Woke Up This Morning, the quality of audio is beefy, yet crisp and clear. From the crackle of the start of Woke Up This Morning to the squealing audio of the Hitchhiker's theme, the speaker copes easily with everything thrown at it. 

Even pop music like Benson Boone's radio-friendly hits don't trouble it - and Franz Ferdinand's Take Me Out sees the device vibrating nicely along without any danger of falling off its perch. And when the speaker's moved around during playback, never once does it falter delivering flawless audio and sound. 

With JBL promising 28 hours of battery life, and an app that lets you customise the sound quality and EQ of what's being pumped out, as well as the AI sound boost, there's much to commend this.

Along with a reasonable price point for the portability and durability of the speaker, JBL's Charge 6 is a more than worthy addition to the range - and while the lack of a USB C does grate a little, this is a speaker that you can't be without if you're serious about great sound on the go.

JBL Charge 6 Features

• Bold JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost
• Qualified against Bluetooth® Core 5.4
• Up to 28 hours of playtime with Playtime Boost
• IP68-certified waterproof, dustproof and drop proof design
• Multi-speaker connection via Auracast™ with JBL AuracastTM -enabled speakers
• Detachable carrying strap with multiple configurations
• High-resolution lossless audio over USB-C connection
• JBL Portable App