The JBL Charge 6 has some big shoes to fill.
Thankfully, the Charge 6 has things well in hand.
The speaker is currently one of the most durable Bluetooth speakers on the market.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras/Gizmodo
And as the name suggests, you might still top off your smartphone or tablet when its batterys low.
And with Auracast, the Charge 6 can share audio with an unlimited number of devices.
And what about that audio?
©Photo: Adriano Contreras/Gizmodo
But its not so much that the mids and lows get lost.
In fact, the Charge 6 presents a fairly balanced performance with a generous soundstage.
Are there moments when theres a little distortion?
©Photo: Adriano Contreras/Gizmodo
The Bose Soundlink Max is a pricier proposition at $400.
Just like its little brother, theFlip 7, the Charge 6 is an environmentally friendly piece of tech.
And with a durability rating of IP68, its one of toughest S.O.B.s on the market.
©Photo: Adriano Contreras/Gizmodo
Like its predecessors, the Charge 6 has the JBL logo prominently displayed on the front.
Outlined in red, the lettering has an almost 3D-like effect.
The speakers endcaps are made of semi-transparent plastic with a big, honking exclamation mark.
©Photo: Adriano Contreras/Gizmodo
The two divots flanking the buttons are a clear giveaway on where the strap is attached.
Finally, theres a pair of feet along the bottom to keep it from toppling over.
Weighing 33.8 ounces, the 9 x 3.9 x 3.7-inch Charge 6 is a chunky thing.
Features
Whats better than one speaker?
Two speakers, of course.
Ive got good news for those looking to expand their speakers power.
And if you dont have another Charge 6, the technology should work with any PartyTogether-compatible JBL speakers.
Another prime feature the companion app offers is Playtime Boost, which disables the equalizer while boosting the volume.
Of the options, most people will probably leave it on JBL Signature, which is the default setting.
Performance
Cuteness aside, the Charge 6 isnt to be taken lightly.
And the Charge 6 did not disappoint.
The speakers powerful vibrations traveled through my desk into my hands and gently caressed my spine.
Its a nice sensation.
I had no problem hearing the tiny plosives from Alanis Morissette on the quieter parts of Ironic.
And Sleepy Browns hypnotic baritone seductively oozed from the speaker during Oh Ho Hum.
There were a couple of missteps, however.
A little harsh on the highs, as demonstrated on Kendrick Lamars heart pt.
6the strings sounded congested, I almost lost the organ in the background.
It was a similar story with the background vocals on No Doubts classic Spiderwebs.
Still, smaller audio points like claps, maracas, trilling keys, and snaps were fully present.
Battery life
I was pleased to see the Charge 6 shipped with 65% battery life.
JBL estimates the Charge 6s 4,722mAH battery can last a full day playing music.
And if you throw in Playtime Boost, that time jumps to 28 hours, which is quite impressive.
The Charge 6 has that moniker for a reason.
Unfortunately, it cant top off your laptop.
I would, however, fault you for not going beyond your preconceived notions and taking a listen.
Because youd be missing out on one of the best Bluetooth speakers of the year.
And friends dont let friends miss out on great tech.
But those moments are few and fleeting with the help of JBLs AI Boost technology.
It can top off a rig or two with its built-in powerbank.
And when its time to go outside, the Charge 6 is tough enough for a little misadventure.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
However, some of our most-anticipated tech for the month won’t arrive until April.
