Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen
Score: 86/100
JBL Charge 6
Score: 89/100Rankings
The JBL Charge 6 is a rugged, high-performance speaker with 28 h battery life, IP68 durability, AI-enhanced sound and a built-in powerbank, but its size and weight make it less portable.
The 2nd-gen Bose SoundLink Flex adds Bluetooth 5.3, aptX support and a programmable shortcut button while retaining the rugged IP67 build and 12-hour battery of the original. Sound is bass-forward and the PositionIQ sensor fine-tunes EQ, but the lack of an aux port, modest EQ depth and the need for the Bose app keep it from being a complete all-rounder.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
12 hours | 28 hoursbest | |
— | 4,722 mAhbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 4 hours | 3 hoursbest |
9 metersbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 589 gbest | 990 g |
— | 45 wattsbest | |
60 mmbest | — | |
— | 20,000 Hzbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(2) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 12 hours | 28 hours |
Charging Time (hours) | 4 hours | 3 hours |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 589 g | 990 g |
IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
Water Resistance Depth (meters) | 1 meters | 1.5 meters |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers rate the SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) between 7.4 and 8.0 out of 10, praising its IP67 durability, strong bass and modern Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX, while noting limited EQ options, lack of substantial hardware changes and a slightly mushy button feel.
Everyday users love the powerful sound, waterproof floating capability and the convenient shortcut button, but repeatedly request an AUX input, richer EQ controls and the ability to charge phones.
“Sounds incredible for its size - deep bass and clear mids.”
“Survived pool drops, beach sand, and rain - still works perfectly.”
“Wish there was an AUX port for older devices.”
Professional reviewers praise the Charge 6 for its AI-driven audio processing, industry-leading IP68 durability, marathon battery and lossless audio via USB-C, while noting its bulk.
Everyday users love the deep bass, rugged build and marathon battery, but miss an included charging cable and note occasional powerbank hiccups.
