Short answer: the EarFun Uboom L. It ranks #2 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $49.79; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The EarFun Uboom L is the better-sounding, lighter option. A great value medium speaker with clear, natural sound, waterproofing, and a Video Mode that keeps audio in sync with video. At 1.4 lbs (650 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. Watch for: It cannot produce real low-bass rumble or fill a large, noisy space, and the top end loses some detail.
The case for the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the EarFun Uboom L cannot. The catch: 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 EarFun Uboom L. 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| EarFun Uboom L | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.79 after coupon UBOOMLWC | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #2 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (firmware >= 1.2.6) | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 216ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (10 band, firmware >= 1.2.6) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms normal / 66ms low latency mode | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (650 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 3.1” x 8.3” x 2.8” (78 x 210 x 72 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 55mm drivers + 2x passive radiators | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 28W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- EarFun Uboom L: 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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