Party on: JBL Pulse 6 Auracast speaker will light up every beat

Speaker includes a customisable 360º light show and an illuminated handle

Phil Creighton28 August 20262 Mins read8

Black JBL Pulse 6 portable speaker with an illuminated handle, glowing with a pink, purple, and yellow 360-degree light show against a black background.

The JBL Pulse 6 features a built-in 360-degree light show and an illuminated carrying handle, combining Auracast connectivity with dynamic party lighting. Picture: JBL

Auracast has never looked so good: The new JBL Pulse 6 speaker includes a 360º light show that illuminates every beat. Even the handle lights up.

This, the company says, makes it the perfect choice for spontaneous parties, laid-back evenings and hanging out with friends.

Its choreographed lighting effects add even more energy and movement, while softer ambient modes help create the perfect mood when things slow down.

The JBL Pulse 6 is the latest iteration of a tech launched more than a decade ago, and it has been revamped with an illuminated handle for both fun and function; the light show remains integrated into the speaker in an even more portable design.

Sunset Mode gradually dims the lighting over a selected countdown period through the JBL One app, helping you relax, recharge and ease into the evening.

Need a little extra glow at night? JBL says a double tap on the speaker activates the new Bedside Lamp feature and fills the space with a warm, comforting light.

The speaker uses JBL Legendary Sound technology, enhanced by the AI Sound Boost system. The company says that this analyses music in real time to maximise acoustic performance with less distortion, while an upgraded acoustic design will unlock more natural and balanced sound with deeper bass, creating that immersive 360º listening experience everyone can see and feel.

Carsten Olesen, President, Consumer Audio at HARMAN (JBL’s parent company), said: “Integrated lights in portable speakers have been increasingly trending, but this isn’t a new concept for JBL – the 360º customizable light show has been integral to Pulse’s design since it first launched in 2013.

“Our focus now is creating a more unified experience through sound and lighting across our entire lineup – from functional Edge Lighting in speakers like JBL Xtreme 5, to experience-enhancing light shows in our PartyBox range and the JBL Pulse 6.”

JBL’s Auracast allows the Pulse 6 speaker to be connected to other JBL brand Auracast-enabled speakers. The company says that the Pulse 6 can be synced with other Pulse 6 and compatible JBL PartyBox speakers and JBL PartyLights, to create a connected JBL experience where every beat, pulse and colour works together.

There are 16 light themes. Ten are ambient: Universe, Firefly, Sea, Campfire, Aurora, Blossom, Cheers, Storm, Sky and Hover; and six party themes: Neon, Loop, Bounce, Trim, Switch and Freeze.

It comes with up to 12 hours of battery life and is IP68 rated, making it waterproof and dustproof. It is made with recycled materials, and goes on sale from early September in selected markets.

Its recommended retail price in the United States is $329.95 (£243).

For more details, log on to: https://www.jbl.com/PULSE-6.html

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Written by

Phil Creighton

Phil Creighton is a journalist with 30 years’ experience in the industry. He has edited newspapers, made regular appearances on radio, created magazines, written for computer magazines, interviewed several Doctor Whos, and written some comic strips. In December 2025, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Reading for his services to journalism in the greater Reading area. He studied Typography and Graphic Communication between 1996-2000, also at the University. And he is also severely deaf, thanks to a hereditary condition which cuts out high and low frequencies.