(checked 2026-10-10)7,059 ratings; the listing pools color variants.
SoundGuys' best Bluetooth speaker overall: stronger bass than the Charge 5, IP68 and drop-proof, with about 13 hours of battery measured at a loud level. Owners grumble that there's no charging cable in the box, and counterfeits turn up from Walmart third-party sellers.
Top complaints
- Battery below the claim for some
SoundGuys measured 13 hours 15 minutes against JBL's 24-28 hour claim. Amazon's summary calls battery mixed, and low-star Walmart reviews describe 3-4 hours, or 20 minutes, of playback.
- No charging cable; fakes from third parties
Several 1-star Walmart reviews complain that no USB-C cable is included, and JBL confirms that. Others say the units they got from third-party sellers were fake.
Source: Walmart reviews (lowest rated) - Some prefer the Charge 5
Wirecutter's listeners wanted a little more bass. A couple of Walmart owners say their Charge 5 sounded better or louder. SoundGuys says Playtime Boost kills sound quality and that it can't link with Party Boost speakers. Amazon notes some units broke quickly.
What owners love
- Deep bass and volume
Amazon shoppers praise the deep bass and loud volume. SoundGuys found stronger bass than the Charge 5 with a 7-band EQ.
- Very rugged
IP68 (1.5 m for 30 minutes) and drop-proof from 1 m onto concrete, with four bumpers and a wider base (SoundGuys).
Source: SoundGuys review - Useful extras
A detachable handle, USB-C power-bank output and lossless USB audio (SoundGuys). Amazon owners consider it good value.
- You want to pair it with an older Charge 5 or Flip 6
- You need speakerphone calls
- You want the most neutral sound
- One speaker for backyard, beach and travel
- Charging your phone from the speaker
- Bass with a full EQ to tune it
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- SoundGuys: Best overall (updated 2026-10-07); 8.4/10 in its review. The cons are that Playtime Boost trims bass and Auracast doesn't work with older Party Boost speakers.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick: very good and rugged, but listeners would have preferred a little more bass.