Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 vs JBL Charge 6

The JBL Charge 6 is the bigger, louder speaker and the better pick for most people who want room-filling sound, long battery life and a powerbank. The Wonderboom 4 is the tougher, smaller, simpler option that floats, survives drops and slips into a bag. Reviewers praise the Charge 6's sound and loudness for its size but complain its exterior scratches easily; Wonderboom owners value its ruggedness and 360-degree sound over raw power.

• Choose the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 if you want a small, floating, drop-proof speaker for showers, pools and hikes and you value simplicity over volume.
• Choose the JBL Charge 6 if you want louder, fuller sound, much longer playtime, a built-in powerbank and multi-speaker Auracast pairing.