Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks #37 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $130. The Tozo PA2 ranks #118, rated 2.5/5, at $39.99, $90.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the JBL Charge Essential 2 does well: 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.
Why pick the Tozo PA2: IPX8 rated, rugged fabric-wrapped design. The catch: Quite a bit of bass distortion thudding as you turn the volume up.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $90.01 with the Tozo PA2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | Tozo PA2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $39.99 |
| Ranked | #37 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #118 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (TOZO App) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (16 EQ modes via app) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 1.2 lbs (540 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 7.1” x 2.8” x 3” (180 x 70 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 1.7-inch full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators (44x49mm each) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX8 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 16W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, AAC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge Essential 2:
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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 Earfun Uboom Slim
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Soundcore Motion 100
- See all 135 comparisons
Tozo PA2: $39.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: IPX8 rated, rugged fabric-wrapped design. App offers 16 EQ modes and TWS dual-pairing with a second PA2.
Cons: Quite a bit of bass distortion thudding as you turn the volume up. Bass not that deep. The Tozo PA1 totally outclasses it.
Full Tozo PA2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (TOZO App) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2.8” x 3” (180 x 70 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.7-inch full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators (44x49mm each) |
| EQ | Yes (16 EQ modes via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX8 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (540 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons