Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $79.99; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the lighter pick. A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use. At 1.3 lbs (589 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The tradeoff: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the longer-running pick. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Soundlink Flex. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. The tradeoff: In side-by-side listening against the JBL Charge 6, its bass is weaker and less stable and distorts on bass-heavy tracks even with the bass turned down in the app, while a narrow boost in the upper mids makes it sound less natural.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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 Soundlink Flex | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #38 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bose Soundlink Flex: reviews by Joy & Oluv’Sone, Oluv and Alan Ross.
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
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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