Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks #37 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $130; the Huawei Sound Joy 2 ranks #60, rated 3.5/5, and costs $154.73, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the JBL Charge Essential 2: 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. Watch for: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
The case for the Huawei Sound Joy 2: A 20W 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range driver and a 10W 19mm tweeter with two passive radiators. The catch: In side by side sound tests against the Harman Kardon Luna, Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, most listeners preferred the other speakers, finding the Sound Joy 2 treble heavy and strained, with audible distortion as the volume rises.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Huawei Sound Joy 2 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | Huawei Sound Joy 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $154.73 |
| Ranked | #37 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Huawei AI Life |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | - |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8”H x 2.9”W (202 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range, 19mm tweeter, 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 30W (20W full range, 10W tweeter) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, AAC |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| NFC | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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 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
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Teufel Rockster XS
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Soundcore Motion 100
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- See all 107 comparisons
Huawei Sound Joy 2: $154.73 AliExpress eBay
Older model: the Huawei Sound Joy (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: A 20W 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range driver and a 10W 19mm tweeter with two passive radiators. In side by side sound tests listeners found its vocals clearer than the Xiaomi Sound Party’s, though with less bass. The 8800mAh battery is rated for 26 hours and fast charges over USB-C. IP67 dust and water protection, Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC, NFC tap to pair, stereo pairing with a second unit, an LED light ring, and three microphones for calls.
Cons: In side by side sound tests against the Harman Kardon Luna, Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, most listeners preferred the other speakers, finding the Sound Joy 2 treble heavy and strained, with audible distortion as the volume rises. The reviewer behind those comparisons also found it less smooth than the first Sound Joy. Nothing so far shows how neutral its tuning is: the evidence is listening comparisons, not measurements. A single unit plays mono, and it isn’t sold on Amazon in the US, so buying one means importing.
Full Huawei Sound Joy 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W (20W full range, 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Huawei AI Life |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 8”H x 2.9”W (202 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 50mm x 75mm racetrack full range, 19mm tweeter, 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs JBL Flip 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor More from storytripperhd →
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Tribit XSound Plus 2 vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Party
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Soundjoy 2 vs Edifier ES60 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Head-to-Head Comparisons