Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) on measured sound quality, the JBL Charge Essential on price. The Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) ranks #51 of 150 medium speakers, rated 3.6/5, at $194. The JBL Charge Essential ranks #78, rated 3.2/5, at $73.99, $120.01 cheaper.
The case for the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II): RTINGS measured a fairly neutral sound with a balanced midrange, so vocals and lead instruments come through clearly, and excellent directivity from the 360° design for an open, even sound around the room. Watch for: RTINGS found it lacks low bass, so there’s little deep thump or rumble.
Why pick the JBL Charge Essential: Doubles as a power bank. The catch: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Charge Essential when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Charge Essential is rated for 20 hours, the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) only 13 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $194.00 | $73.99 |
| Ranked | #51 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #78 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Bose Connect | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| EQ | - | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.1 |
| Drivers | - | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Dimensions | - | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| TWS | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
- JBL Charge 6 vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
- JBL Flip 6 vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
- JBL Flip 7 vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II): $194.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Revolve (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: RTINGS measured a fairly neutral sound with a balanced midrange, so vocals and lead instruments come through clearly, and excellent directivity from the 360° design for an open, even sound around the room. In a side by side test against the Revolve+ II and B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen, several listeners preferred its clearer, less bass heavy tuning to the Revolve+ II. Up to 13 hours of battery, IP55 dust and water resistance, a built-in microphone for calls and voice assistants, and multi-connect for two devices at once.
Cons: RTINGS found it lacks low bass, so there’s little deep thump or rumble. It doesn’t get loud either: DXOMARK measured only about 73 to 74 dBA at maximum volume, against 85 to 89 dBA for speakers like the Sony SRS-XB43 in the same test, and bass compresses and pumps as you turn it up. There is no EQ in the Bose Connect app, a single unit plays mono, and it still charges over micro USB.
Full Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) review and specifications →
| App | Bose Connect |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- RTINGS: Bose SoundLink Revolve II Review More from Rtings.com →
- DXOMARK: Bose SoundLink Revolve II Speaker review
- SoundGuys: Bose SoundLink Revolve II review More from Soundguys →
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- Danny Pops: BEST Bose Speaker? Bose is getting lazy. More from DannyPops →
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JBL Charge Essential: $73.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked higher, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential.
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
Full JBL Charge Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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