Short answer: the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It ranks #75 of 172 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.4/5) at $297.77 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge 3 ranks #88 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge 3’s replacement, the JBL Charge 6, is rated 4.2/5 at $119.95.
The case for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker: Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Charge 3 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge 3 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
The JBL Charge 3 is the longer-running, lighter choice. Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices. ~20 hour battery life. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. At 1.8 lbs (800 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The tradeoff: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge 3 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room.
Amazon $297.77 Bose $399.00 eBay
Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices. ~20 hour battery life.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | JBL Charge 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.77 | $80 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #75 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #88 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| TWS | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes (JBL Connect) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | No |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Strap | No | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W RMS |
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