Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks #39 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $74.91; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #94, rated 3.2/5, and costs $179, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Charge Essential 2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. A simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale. Its bass reaches about 55Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated IPX7 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam 2. Watch for: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
The Sonos Roam 2 is the lighter pick. A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 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. Watch for: Exact same sound quality as the original Sonos Roam.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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 small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support.
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 | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $74.91 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #39 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Sonos S2 App |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 0.9 lbs (429 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) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, AAC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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