Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks #37 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality at $130; the Huawei Sound Joy ranks #38 and costs $180, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the JBL Charge Essential 2 offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
What the Huawei Sound Joy offers: Use Devialet and +6db EQ for best sound quality Watch for: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a Charge 5. Very expensive
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Huawei Sound Joy and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | Huawei Sound Joy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $180 |
| Ranked | #37 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #38 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | AAC, SBC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (3 microphones) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
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 |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Huawei Sound Joy: $180 Aliexpress eBay
Pros: Use Devialet and +6db EQ for best sound quality. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a Charge 5. Very expensive
Full Huawei Sound Joy review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Drivers | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Pulse 5
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