Short answer: the Charge Essential 2 for sound quality, the Charge 4 if you find it cheap secondhand. The Charge Essential 2 ranks #62 of 164 medium speakers against the Charge 4’s #39, and the Charge Essential 2 costs $35.01 more.
The Essential 2 is the more modern, better sounding speaker. Our notes describe it as close to Charge 5 performance at a lower price, with its main weakness being slightly less bass than that flagship model. The Charge 4’s notes are less flattering: boosted bass, a slightly rolled-off top end, and a warm sound overall, plus it isn’t as loud as the older Charge 3 it replaced.
Both are simple, mono power-bank speakers with similar physical specs. Neither is stereo, both are rated IPX7 for water resistance, both run about 20 hours on a charge, and both double as a USB-A power bank for your phone. The Essential 2 uses a newer 53mm woofer and 20mm tweeter pairing against the Charge 4’s single oval full-range driver, and adds Bluetooth 5.1 over the Charge 4’s older 4.2.
The Charge 4 still has one feature the Essential 2 lacks: JBL’s Connect+ party mode, letting it link wirelessly with over 100 other Connect+ speakers. The Essential 2 has no party mode at all.
Buy the Charge Essential 2 for better, more modern sound that’s genuinely close to the Charge 5, especially if you’re buying new.
Buy the Charge 4 only if you find a good used deal and specifically want JBL’s Connect+ multi-speaker linking, since it still outranks many current models despite its age.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 4 | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $94.99 Discontinued | $130 |
| Ranked | #62 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 3.7” x 3.7” (220 x 95 x 93 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 30W RMS | 40W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| App | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | No | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge Essential 2:
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- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Minirig 4
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 4: $94.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 3.7” x 3.7” (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 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 Charge 4 unboxing first impressions - vs Charge 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: W King D8 Mini review vs JBL Charge 4 vs Maxsound Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3 - small one or a large one? 🤷♂️
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential More from FlossyCarter →
- Naresh Lal: JBL Charge 4 Vs Xdobo X8 Tell me Which one is the BEST?
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Charge Essential 2: $130 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked lower, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: A tough, compact 930g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, USB-C charging, a USB-A power-bank output and a claimed 20-hour battery life. It delivers much of the Charge 5’s familiar punch and volume in a simpler package, with bass that reaches roughly 55Hz for this size. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option. It plays mono, has a little less bass authority than the Charge 5, and its IPX7 rating does not promise dust protection. Choose it for a good sale price, not for extra features.
Full JBL Charge Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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