Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen on measured sound quality, the JBL Charge Essential 2 on price. The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen ranks #11 of 177 medium speakers, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #39, rated 3.8/5, at $74.91, $320.09 cheaper.
What the JBL Charge Essential 2 does well: A simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale. Watch for: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel. At 1.2 lbs (558 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 2 at 2.1 lbs (930 g). It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential 2 lacks.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2 if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $74.91 | $395.00 |
| Ranked | #39 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 90ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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