Short answer: the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It ranks #75 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.4/5) at $399 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge Essential ranks #91 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge Essential’s replacement, the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.7/5 at $199.95.
The case for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker: A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. Watch for: 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 Essential is the longer-running, lighter pick. A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. At 1.7 lbs (770 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, highs rolled off.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $73.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #75 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| TWS | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 1.7 lbs (770 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 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| 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 | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W RMS |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bose Portable Smart Speaker: reviews by SoundGuys, RTINGS and Tom’s Guide.
- JBL Charge Essential: reviews by Techder Audios, Flossy Carter and The Tech Files.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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