Short answer: the Wonderboom survives water and floats; the Charge 3 recharges your phone. The Wonderboom is IP67 rated and floats, but it is not stereo, has barely any bass, and its treble is recessed. The Charge 3 doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices, though it has less clarity than the Flip 4.
Buy the JBL Charge 3 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Earfun Uboom L instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 3 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 Discontinued | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #88 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #109 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (800 g) | 0.9 lbs (425 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | - |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 2x 1.6” active drivers + 2x 1.8” x 2.6” passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) | 4” x 3.7” (102 x 93.5 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | - |
| App | Yes (JBL Connect) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Charge 3:
- Earfun Uboom L vs JBL Charge 3
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge 3
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge 3
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge 3
- Minirig 4 vs JBL Charge 3
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 3: $80 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices. ~20 hour battery life. IPX7 rated; built-in noise/echo-cancelling speakerphone. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4. Battery failures are common. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (JBL Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3 - small one or a large one? 🤷♂️
- DLX Willington: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 4 :Sound Battle: Almost to the size of the JBL Charge 3? More from DLXWillington →
- EnforcerMan: JBL CHARGE 3 VS TREBLAB HD77 - FULL REVIEW
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom: $79 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5.
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact, light, and simple to use.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Dip at 9kHz. Low mid bass distortion. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3.7” (102 x 93.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.6” active drivers + 2x 1.8” x 2.6” passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (425 g) |
- 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 Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Klipsch Groove
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs LG Xboom Grab
- See all 74 comparisons