The JBL Charge 6 and UE Boom 4 are both portable Bluetooth speakers built for outdoor use, but have quite different sound signatures and bass response. The Charge 6 is slightly larger and heavier, with a more powerful 40W output from its racetrack woofer and tweeter combo, giving it fuller bass and more defined highs.
The Boom 4, while lighter and easier to carry, focuses on 360-degree sound using a cylindrical build with dual drivers firing in opposite directions. Battery life favors the Charge 6 at up to 20 hours compared to the Boom 4’s 14, and JBL includes a USB-C audio input and powerbank function, which the Boom doesn’t offer. Both are IP67 rated, so they can handle dust and water equally well, but if you want tighter bass and longer playtime, the Charge 6 is a better choice. If you’re after something smaller with a more open soundstage that you can toss in a bag and forget about, the Boom 4 is more practical.
Specs Comparison
The JBL Charge 6 weighs around 960 grams and has a more solid, horizontal build with passive radiators on both ends. Inside, it’s running a 52 by 90 mm racetrack woofer and a 20 mm tweeter with a combined 40 watts of RMS power—30 watts going to the woofer and 10 to the tweeter. It gave me a stronger low-end presence and a more focused front-facing sound. Battery life is rated for up to 20 hours off a 7500mAh cell, and I liked that it uses USB-C not only for charging but also for audio input, which came in handy when I wanted to connect directly without Bluetooth. The Charge 6 also doubles as a powerbank through its USB-C output, which made it feel more functional on longer trips.
The UE Boom 4 is lighter and taller, weighing roughly 600 grams and built with a cylindrical shape that fires sound in 360 degrees. It uses two 45 mm active drivers and two passive radiators, and the output is rated at about 20 watts RMS. That means it doesn’t get as loud or as deep as the Charge 6, but the sound spreads more evenly in an open space. I found that useful when I set it in the middle of a group outdoors or in a small room where people were moving around. The Boom 4 has a battery life of around 14 hours, which is decent for its size, though a bit short compared to the Charge. It charges via USB-C but doesn’t support wired audio input or have powerbank capability. Bluetooth 5.2 gives it a stable connection, and it can pair with other Boom speakers for bigger sound, but you’re limited to wireless use only.
In daily use, the Boom 4 felt easier to toss into a backpack and carry around, especially for quick outings. But when I wanted more control over how I used the speaker—like charging my phone or plugging in a wired source—the Charge 6 is more versatile and can double as a power bank. Sound-wise, the Charge 6 leaned toward stronger bass and tighter mids while the Boom 4 was more about openness and ease of placement. It comes down to how you listen. If I want more volume, low-end and battery life in a speaker that can double as a charging hub, the Charge 6 is what I’d bring. If I’m packing light and want something that plays well in a social setting with less setup, the Boom 4 does that better.
Table Comparison
| Specification | JBL Charge 6 | UE Boom 4 |
| Power Output | 30W (woofer) + 10W (tweeter) = 40W RMS total | 20W RMS total (2 x 45 mm active drivers) |
| Driver Configuration | 1 x 52 x 90 mm woofer + 1 x 20 mm tweeter | 2 x 45 mm active drivers + 2 passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60 Hz – 20 kHz | 75 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Sound Directionality | Forward-firing stereo | 360-degree sound |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio support via update) | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Audio Input | USB-C (wired playback supported) | None |
| Powerbank Output | Yes (USB-C output) | No |
| Charging Port | USB-C with Power Delivery | USB-C |
| Battery Capacity | 7500mAh (3.6V, 27Wh) | Not officially disclosed (approx. 3200–4000mAh est.) |
| Playback Time | Up to 20 hours | Up to 14 hours |
| Charging Time | ~4 hours | ~2.6 hours |
| Water/Dust Resistance | IP67 (waterproof and dustproof) | IP67 (waterproof and dustproof) |
| Dimensions (H x D) | 220 x 96 x 94 mm | 184 x 73 mm (cylindrical) |
| Weight | 960 g | 600 g |
| App Support | JBL Portable App (EQ, firmware, PartyBoost) | BOOM App (EQ, firmware, PartyUp pairing) |
| Stereo Pairing | JBL PartyBoost | PartyUp (connect over 150 Boom/Megaboom speakers) |
| Voice Assistant Support | No | No |
Sound Comparison
The first track I used to compare the JBL Charge 6 and UE Boom 4 was “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa which is a sharp, punchy pop mix with plenty of low-end and bright upper frequencies. On the JBL Charge 6, the bassline had more weight and sat deeper in the mix. The 52 x 90 mm woofer gave it a smoother low-end curve and the 20 mm tweeter added a bit more clarity to the hi-hats and synth stabs. The Boom 4, using two smaller 45 mm drivers and passive radiators, was tighter and slightly more mid-focused. It handled the track cleanly but didn’t carry the same physical presence in the bass, especially at higher volumes. What the Boom 4 did offer was a more open feeling in the room—because of its 360-degree design, the sound filled the space more evenly even when I moved around.
I moved on to “Redbone” by Childish Gambino to check how both handled warmth, layering and subtle dynamics. The Charge 6 delivered fuller body through the vocals and kept the electric piano rich without blending into the background. The sound had more depth, particularly in the low mids. It wasn’t as wide in dispersion as the Boom 4, but what it gave up in spread it made up for in weight. On the Boom 4, the vocals were slightly more forward and the overall presentation leaned brighter. The 360-degree projection helped when I placed the speaker at the center of a small group outdoors. But when I stood still and listened critically, I could tell the Charge 6 had more dynamic headroom and handled the layered production better without compressing the energy during louder moments.
The last test track was “Elephant” by Tame Impala, which is loaded with gritty guitars, sharp drum hits and stereo panning effects. The JBL Charge 6, being a mono speaker with stereo-style driver tuning, created a good sense of direction and separation. The kick drum had more impact and the fuzz in the guitar tones didn’t smear together. The Boom 4 kept everything cohesive but didn’t hit as hard in the low end. Its sound was more even across the space but flatter in terms of dynamics. I think the UE Boom 4 works well when you want a balanced and portable speaker with wide coverage for casual listening. But for more focused music sessions or tracks with heavy bass and detailed production, the Charge 6 gave me a more satisfying and controlled sound experience with better bass.
Design Comparison
The JBL Charge 6 has a fabric mesh wrap which gives it a grippy surface, and the flattened base helps it stay stable when placed on a table or uneven ground. The top has tactile buttons that are easy to find by feel, and the rear panel houses a USB-C charging and audio input port along with a USB-C output for charging other devices. It’s compact enough to carry in a bag but still feels like something I’d be conscious of if I was trying to pack light.
The UE Boom 4, by comparison, is taller and narrower. It weighs around 600 grams and has a more vertical build which made it easier to slide into a side pocket or hold in one hand for longer periods. The design is focused around portability and all-around sound projection, and you can tell from how balanced it feels when upright. The soft rubber spine that runs along the back integrates the power and Bluetooth buttons, while the massive volume buttons on the front are embedded into the fabric shell. The charging port is located at the bottom, tucked under a flap, which adds a bit of water resistance but can be awkward to reach when the speaker is upright and plugged in. It doesn’t support wired audio input or powerbank functions, so it keeps the design minimal.
Both are rated IP67, so they are fully waterproof and can even be submerged underwater to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes. The Charge 6 felt like it was built to offer a bit more utility, with the added weight and extra ports giving it a slightly more rugged and functional vibe. The Boom 4 focused more on portability and ease of movement. If I were heading out for a short trip or a hike, I’d lean toward the Boom 4 because of the shape and lower weight. But if I needed something with longer battery life and extra wired options, the Charge 6 felt more like the more versatile speaker and can double as a power bank if required.
The Verdict?
Personally, I would go with the JBL Charge 6. It gives me more flexibility in how I use it and sounds fuller when I’m listening to tracks with deeper bass or more complex layering. The 40W RMS output and dedicated woofer and tweeter setup give it more definition across the frequency range, especially compared to the UE Boom 4’s simpler driver configuration. The Charge 6 also lasts longer with up to 20 hours of battery life, and I liked having the option to plug in through USB-C or charge my phone when needed. It’s a bit heavier and more directional in sound, but for focused listening sessions or when I’m setting it up in a fixed spot, it feels more complete. The bass response on the JBL Charge 6 is excellent and works well if you like bass-heavy music genres or EDM.
That said, I think the UE Boom 4 is still a good choice if you want portability and wide sound coverage. It’s lighter, easier to carry, and the 360-degree audio makes it great for casual hangouts or when the speaker is at the center of a group. It doesn’t hit as hard in the low end and the battery life is shorter, but for its size it delivers clean, balanced audio. Between the two, I think the Charge 6 is the better overall speaker—it has more power, more playback options, and better battery life. It feels like something I can rely on for both everyday listening and more demanding use.