Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is the tougher, better-connected speaker; the Charge 2 has the power bank. The Boom 3 is IP67 rated and floats in a rugged fabric shell, pairs up to 150 speakers via PartyUp, and has excellent 15-hour battery life, but it is not stereo with barely any bass and recessed treble. The Charge 2 doubles as a 6000mAh power bank, though its bass compresses at higher volumes.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 new; the JBL Charge 2 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 2 | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 Discontinued | $134.99 |
| Ranked | #90 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm fullrange | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3.4” x 3” (216 x 86 x 76 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| App | No | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 91Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Charge 2 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 2
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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
JBL Charge 2: $149 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank. ~10-12 hour battery life. Social Mode pairs up to 3 phones; works as a speakerphone.
Cons: Bass compression at higher volumes. Warm sound. slightly rolled off treble. Not as loud as other speakers. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 15W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 3.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3.4” x 3” (216 x 86 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $134.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5.
Pros: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. Measured bass extension of 91Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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