Bluetooth Speakers / JBL Charge 6 vs Sony ULT FIELD 3
JBL Charge 6 vs Sony ULT FIELD 3
JBL Charge 6
Charges your phone, survives anything, and plays for 24 hours.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.1 points separate them. Charges your phone, survives anything, and plays for 24 hours. The Sony ULT FIELD 3 answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The JBL Charge 6 and Sony ULT FIELD 3 are both current-generation bluetooth Speaker models, and they're priced almost identically ($199.95 vs $199.99). On Features, the JBL Charge 6 leads (8.0 vs 7.0/10) — app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras. On Sound Quality, the JBL Charge 6 leads (8.0 vs 7.5/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail. On Bass, the Sony ULT FIELD 3 leads (8.0 vs 7.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size. Overall, the JBL Charge 6 scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Sony ULT FIELD 3, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | JBL Charge 6 | Sony ULT FIELD 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 24 | 24 |
| Water & Dust Rating | IP68 — dust and water, to 1.5m for 30 minutes, plus drop-proof | IP67 — dust and water, to 1m for 30 minutes, plus shockproof and rustproof |
| Floats | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Power Output (W) | 45 | Sony does not publish an RMS figure for this model |
| Weight (g) | 980✓ | 1200 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 (SBC and AAC; no LDAC) |
| Drivers | Redesigned racetrack woofer plus a 20mm tweeter, with dual side-firing passive radiators | 1x 86 x 46mm racetrack woofer plus a 20mm tweeter, with passive radiators |
| Stereo & Multi-Speaker Pairing | Auracast — stereo pair two Charge 6s or link up to 100 Auracast speakers; NOT backward compatible with the Charge 5 or PartyBoost | Stereo pair two ULT FIELD 3 units; Party Connect chains multiple Sony speakers, though Sony does not publish a maximum |
| Speakerphone | No | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Charges Your Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red, Teal | Black, Off White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The JBL Charge 6 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony ULT FIELD 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Sony ULT FIELD 3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the JBL Charge 6 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The JBL Charge 6 and Sony ULT FIELD 3 are level here, at 8.0/10 each. rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Durability
The Sony ULT FIELD 3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats. If that is what you are buying for, the JBL Charge 6 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Portability
The JBL Charge 6 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on weight, size and how easily it travels. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony ULT FIELD 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Loudness
The JBL Charge 6 and Sony ULT FIELD 3 are level here, at 7.5/10 each. maximum usable volume before it strains is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Features
The JBL Charge 6 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony ULT FIELD 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The JBL Charge 6 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony ULT FIELD 3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the JBL Charge 6 if…
- • Features matters most to you — the JBL Charge 6 scores 8.0/10 here (app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the JBL Charge 6 scores 8.0/10 here (tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Portability matters most to you — the JBL Charge 6 scores 7.5/10 here (weight, size and how easily it travels).
- • Your main use case is portable.
Choose the Sony ULT FIELD 3 if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Sony ULT FIELD 3 scores 8.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension for the size).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Sony ULT FIELD 3 scores 9.5/10 here (IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats).
- • Your main use case is poolside.
Pros & Cons
JBL Charge 6
Pros
- +The power bank function genuinely earns its place on a day out
- +IP68 and drop-proof, with a removable carry strap
- +24 rated hours and strong measured runtime
- +7-band EQ and USB-C lossless input
Cons
- −Measured runtime at realistic volume is around half the 24-hour claim
- −No microphone and no Bluetooth multipoint
- −No USB-C cable in the box
- −Auracast breaks pairing compatibility with older PartyBoost JBLs
Sony ULT FIELD 3
Pros
- +Rustproof construction genuinely matters at the beach or a pool, and almost nothing else here claims it
- +The ULT button gives an immediate, satisfying bass lift
- +24 hours plus USB charge-out
- +Shoulder strap included in the box
Cons
- −Bluetooth 5.2 with no LDAC, which is odd on a Sony product
- −Sony publishes no power rating
- −Audible compression when pushed loud
- −Mono unless paired
- −No lighting, unlike similarly priced party-oriented rivals
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the JBL Charge 6 or Sony ULT FIELD 3 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the JBL Charge 6 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Features, the JBL Charge 6 or the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The JBL Charge 6 scores higher on Features (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the JBL Charge 6 or the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The JBL Charge 6 scores higher on Sound Quality (8.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Bass, the JBL Charge 6 or the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The Sony ULT FIELD 3 scores higher on Bass (8.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size.
Which is better for Durability, the JBL Charge 6 or the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The Sony ULT FIELD 3 scores higher on Durability (9.5/10 vs 9.0/10) — IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats.
Is the JBL Charge 6 worth the price difference over the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The JBL Charge 6 is the cheaper option at $199.95 versus $199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Features.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The JBL Charge 6 is the better fit if you mainly care about portable. The Sony ULT FIELD 3 is the better fit for poolside.
What's the warranty on the JBL Charge 6 vs the Sony ULT FIELD 3?+
The JBL Charge 6 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony ULT FIELD 3 ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
JBL Charge 6 — $199.95
Premium Option
Sony ULT FIELD 3 — $199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.