Short answer: the Huawei Sound Joy 2. It ranks #60 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $154.73. The JBL Charge Essential ranks #78, rated 3.2/5, at $73.99, $80.74 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Huawei Sound Joy 2: A 20W 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range driver and a 10W 19mm tweeter with two passive radiators. The tradeoff: In side by side sound tests against the Harman Kardon Luna, Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, most listeners preferred the other speakers, finding the Sound Joy 2 treble heavy and strained, with audible distortion as the volume rises.
What the JBL Charge Essential does well: Doubles as a power bank. Watch for: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Buy the Huawei Sound Joy 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $80.74 saving on the JBL Charge Essential is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Huawei Sound Joy 2 | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $154.73 | $73.99 |
| Ranked | #60 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #78 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 30W (20W full range, 10W tweeter) | 20W RMS |
| App | Huawei AI Life | No |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 2.9”W (202 x 73 mm) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range, 19mm tweeter, 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| EQ | - | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Flip 6 vs Huawei Sound Joy 2
- JBL Flip 7 vs Huawei Sound Joy 2
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Huawei Sound Joy 2
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
Huawei Sound Joy 2: $154.73 AliExpress eBay
Older model: the Huawei Sound Joy (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: A 20W 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range driver and a 10W 19mm tweeter with two passive radiators. In side by side sound tests listeners found its vocals clearer than the Xiaomi Sound Party’s, though with less bass. The 8800mAh battery is rated for 26 hours and fast charges over USB-C. IP67 dust and water protection, Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC, NFC tap to pair, stereo pairing with a second unit, an LED light ring, and three microphones for calls.
Cons: In side by side sound tests against the Harman Kardon Luna, Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, most listeners preferred the other speakers, finding the Sound Joy 2 treble heavy and strained, with audible distortion as the volume rises. The reviewer behind those comparisons also found it less smooth than the first Sound Joy. Nothing so far shows how neutral its tuning is: the evidence is listening comparisons, not measurements. A single unit plays mono, and it isn’t sold on Amazon in the US, so buying one means importing.
Full Huawei Sound Joy 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W (20W full range, 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Huawei AI Life |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 2.9”W (202 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range, 19mm tweeter, 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs JBL Flip 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor More from storytripperhd →
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Tribit XSound Plus 2 vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Party
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Soundjoy 2 vs Edifier ES60 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
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- Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
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- Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
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- See all 30 comparisons
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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