Short answer: the JBL Charge 4. It ranks #50 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $119.95; the Sony ULT Field 3 ranks #57 and costs $148, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Charge 4 offers: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers. Watch for: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3.
What the Sony ULT Field 3 offers: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone. Watch for: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together - turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Buy the JBL Charge 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 3 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 4 | Sony ULT Field 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 Discontinued | $148 |
| Ranked | #50 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #57 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g | 2.6 lbs / 1.2 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) | 10.1" x 4.4" x 3.1" (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 30W RMS | 27W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| App | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Charge 2 vs JBL Charge 4
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Sony ULT Field 3
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon eBay
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.
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 →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential More from FlossyCarter →
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- Reddit Search for JBL Charge 4 Review
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Sony ULT Field 3: $148 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together - turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Full Sony ULT Field 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1" x 4.4" x 3.1" (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 27W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs / 1.2 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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