The JBL Charge 6 builds on the foundation of the JBL Charge 5 with a few key upgrades while maintaining much of the same core hardware. Both speakers share identical drivers—a 52 x 90 mm racetrack woofer and a 20 mm tweeter—delivering the same 30W (woofer) and 10W (tweeter) RMS power output. The Charge 6, however, uses Bluetooth 5.3 compared to Bluetooth 5.1 on the Charge 5, offering potential benefits in energy efficiency and audio latency, with LE Audio support expected via future firmware.
Another practical change is the inclusion of USB-C audio input on the Charge 6, replacing the USB-A port used for powerbank functionality in the Charge 5. Battery capacity remains at 7500mAh with a rated 20-hour playback time, but the Charge 6 now supports USB-C Power Delivery for faster and more standardized charging. Both retain the same IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they’re equally suited for outdoor use. In terms of dimensions and weight, the differences are minimal, making the Charge 6 more of a subtle update than a full generational leap.
Specs Comparison
In terms of specs, both speakers use the same driver setup—a 52 by 90 mm racetrack-style woofer and a 20 mm tweeter. They push out 30 watts for the woofer and 10 watts for the tweeter, and I didn’t notice a significant shift in raw loudness or low-end output. The form factor is almost identical too, with both weighing just over 960 grams and measuring around 22 centimeters in length, so in the hand and in a bag they feel pretty much the same.
Where the Charge 6 starts to pull ahead is in the connectivity and power side of things. It runs on Bluetooth 5.3 while the Charge 5 uses Bluetooth 5.1, and although the difference isn’t huge during regular playback, the Charge 6 is technically more futureproof—especially with LE Audio support expected through an update. What I really appreciated was the shift to a USB-C port for both charging and audio input on the Charge 6.
On the Charge 5, you still get USB-C for charging, but the audio input is missing and it relies on a USB-A port just for powerbank use. Both have a 7500mAh battery and the same 20-hour playback time rating, though the Charge 6 benefits from USB Power Delivery which made recharging faster for me when using a PD-compatible charger. The IP67 rating remains unchanged on both, so I didn’t have to treat one more carefully than the other when using them outdoors. Overall, I found the Charge 6 to be a more refined and slightly more practical version of the same speaker I already knew from the Charge 5.
Table Comparison
| Specification | JBL Charge 6 | JBL Charge 5 |
| Power Output | 30W (woofer) + 10W (tweeter) | 30W (woofer) + 10W (tweeter) |
| Driver Size | 52 x 90 mm woofer + 20 mm tweeter | 52 x 90 mm woofer + 20 mm tweeter |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 (LE Audio support via future update) | 5.1 |
| Audio Input | USB-C audio input | No audio input |
| Powerbank Output | USB-C (shared for charging and output) | USB-A (dedicated powerbank port) |
| Battery Capacity | 7500mAh | 7500mAh |
| Playback Time | Up to 20 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C with Power Delivery | USB-C (no Power Delivery) |
| IP Rating | IP67 (waterproof and dustproof) | IP67 (waterproof and dustproof) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 220 x 96 x 94 mm | 223 x 97 x 94 mm |
| Weight | 960 g | 960 g |
Sound Comparison
The first thing I noticed when switching between the JBL Charge 6 and the Charge 5 was how similar their sound signatures are. Both use the same 52 x 90 mm woofer and 20 mm tweeter, driven by the same 30W and 10W RMS amps, so tonally they sit in the same ballpark. I started with “Time” by Hans Zimmer [from the Inception soundtrack] to get a feel for low-end presence and dynamic build-up. On both speakers, the sub-bass was more about warmth and pressure than depth, which is expected for this size, but the Charge 6 felt a bit tighter in how it handled the reverb and decay in the piano layers. The Charge 5 gave me slightly more boom but less control. At moderate volumes, the difference was subtle—most noticeable with closed eyes and back-to-back A/B listening.
I moved on to something with more texture and rhythm—“Tadow” by Masego and FKJ. On the Charge 6, the sax had a touch more clarity and the kick drum landed a bit cleaner. It wasn’t a dramatic shift, but it felt like the Charge 6 gave just a little more space to the upper mids and treble. Vocals had a clearer outline too, especially around 1kHz to 3kHz. Both speakers maintained a very similar stereo field and punchy delivery, though I did notice the Charge 6 held together slightly better at higher volumes—less compression when pushed to 80 percent, which might be due to firmware improvements or more efficient power management through its updated Bluetooth 5.3 platform.
I ended the session with “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa to see how both handled fast-paced pop production. Both speakers delivered solid energy and rhythm, but the Charge 6 felt a touch more controlled in the upper treble—the hi-hats were less splashy and had better definition. It’s not night and day, but enough that I caught myself leaning toward the Charge 6 when playing newer tracks with dense mixing. If you already have the Charge 5, the overall sonic shift may not justify an upgrade just for sound. But if you’re choosing between them now, I’d say the Charge 6 gives a slightly more polished listening experience without changing the character JBL is known for.
Design Comparison
Both the JBL Charge 6 and Charge 5 are identical in shape and weight, with the Charge 6 coming in at around 960 grams and measuring just under 220 mm in width. The Charge 5 is a hair wider at 223 mm but that difference isn’t something I really noticed unless I measured them. Both have the same rugged cylindrical form wrapped in a tightly woven fabric mesh that feels durable in the hand and doesn’t pick up much dirt. The passive radiators at both ends still have that exposed rubberized ring which looks sharp and feels solid. I’ve dropped the Charge 5 before and it held up well, so I expect the Charge 6 to be just as reliable with its IP67 rating [waterproof and dustproof].
One of the subtle design tweaks on the Charge 6 is the shift in its rear port layout. The USB-A port used on the Charge 5 is gone. Now there’s just a single USB-C port that handles both charging and audio input. I actually prefer this—it makes cable management easier and everything now runs through one standard port. The buttons on top are arranged in the same way and still sit flush into the fabric layer. I noticed they felt just a little firmer on the Charge 6, which gave me more feedback when adjusting volume or switching Bluetooth connections. It’s not a big deal, but it made the Charge 6 feel slightly more refined when navigating by touch.
Color options are also almost the same, though JBL added a few new shades with the Charge 6 lineup. I was using the black model for both and they looked nearly identical from a distance. The base is still slightly flattened so it won’t roll around, and both felt stable when I set them down on uneven ground. Overall, the build quality between the two is extremely close. The Charge 6 doesn’t take a leap forward, but it refines the experience in small ways that made it feel a bit more thought-out, especially in terms of port utility and button responsiveness.
The Verdict?
Personally, I would go with the JBL Charge 6. It might not reinvent the design or sound profile, but the small upgrades make it a more complete package. The addition of Bluetooth 5.3 [with LE Audio on the way] feels like a solid step forward, and the USB-C port that handles both charging and audio input simplifies things a lot when I’m traveling or switching between devices. The sound performance is nearly the same on paper since both use the same 30W woofer and 10W tweeter setup, but during testing I found the Charge 6 to have slightly cleaner highs and a bit more clarity when I played tracks with layered instruments or punchy vocals. It’s subtle, but it’s there—especially noticeable when pushing the volume past 70 percent.
I think that for someone who already owns the Charge 5, the differences might not be enough to warrant an upgrade unless the USB-C audio input or future codec support is a must-have. But if you’re choosing between the two today, the Charge 6 feels like the smarter buy. It refines the experience in the right places without changing the durable form factor or battery performance that made the Charge line popular. For me, those thoughtful updates—especially the streamlined port design and smoother high-end sound, make me like the JBL Charge 6 more.