JBL Charge 3 vs JBL Charge 6
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| JBLCharge 3 | JBLCharge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2016 | April 2025 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Portable speaker | Portable speaker |
| Channels | stereo | – |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Drivers | Two 50 mm drivers and two external passive radiators | 53 × 93 mm woofer and 20 mm tweeter; AI Sound Boost adjusts the drivers in real time to limit distortion |
| Amplifiers | 2 × 10 W | 30 W RMS for the woofer, 15 W RMS for the tweeter |
| Frequency response | 65 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB | 56 Hz – 20 kHz (−6 dB); signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB |
| Audio formats | – | Lossless audio over USB-C from a compatible source (added by software update) |
| Connections | ||
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | No | No |
| Voice assistants | None | None |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.1; A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6 and HSP 1.2; up to three phones or tablets can connect and take turns | Bluetooth 5.4; A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6 |
| Ports | Micro-USB charging, USB power-bank output (5 V / 2 A) and 3.5 mm audio input (port types from SoundGuys) | USB-C in and out (charges a phone, not a laptop); 5–20 V, 3 A input |
| Multi-room | JBL Connect at launch; the maker offers a firmware upgrade to Connect+, after which it cannot link with original Connect speakers | Auracast stereo pairing of two Charge 6s, and multi-speaker playback with other Auracast JBL speakers |
| App | A later firmware update enables Siri or Google Now through a connected phone, rather than a built-in assistant | JBL Portable app (iOS and Android) |
| Design | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 20 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Water and dust resistance | IPX7 | IP68 |
| Weight | 0.8 kg (better) | 0.96 kg |
| Battery life detail | Up to 20 hours depending on volume and content; 6,000 mAh / 22.2 Wh lithium-ion polymer battery; 4.5 hours to charge; included 5 V / 2.3 A adaptor. The final specification sheet supersedes the CES announcement's 15-hour claim. | Up to 24 hours, plus 4 hours with Playtime Boost; 34 Wh (7.2 V, 4,722 mAh) lithium-ion polymer battery; 3 hours to charge at 12–20 V / 3 A; 10 minutes of charging gives up to 150 minutes of play |
| Mounting | – | Removable handle strap |
| Microphones | Noise- and echo-cancelling speakerphone | – |
| Size | 213 × 88.5 × 87 mm (W × H × D); 800 g, from the maker's specification sheet rather than SoundGuys' conflicting table | 228.8 × 98.5 × 94.0 mm (W × H × D); 0.99 kg with the strap |
| Colours | – | Black, Blue, Red, Purple, Pink, White, Sand (JBL Singapore) |
| In the box | Charge 3, 5 V / 2.3 A USB adaptor, micro-USB cable, quick start guide, safety sheet and warranty card | Charge 6, strap, quick start guide, warranty card and safety sheet |
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