Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #35 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $130; the Xiaomi Sound Party ranks #19 at $133.62. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
On the JBL Charge Essential 2 side: Doubles as a power bank. Watch for: Not stereo. Slightly less bass than a Charge 5.
What the Xiaomi Sound Party gets right: Sounds pretty balanced overall, more neutral than the Charge 5. The tradeoff: Bass can sound slightly thuddy at high volume, 180hz peak.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Xiaomi Sound Party if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | Xiaomi Sound Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $133.62 |
| Ranked | #35 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 930 g | 2.6 lbs / 1200 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 10" x 3.6" x 3.6" (255 x 92 x 92 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 40mm woofers (35W total) + 2x 15mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/2A) |
| Output Power | 40W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Max Volume | - | 102dB |
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- B&O Beosound A1 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Xiaomi Sound Party
- JBL Flip 7 vs Xiaomi Sound Party
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge Essential 2: $130
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IP67 rated. Close to Charge 5 performance at a lower price.
Cons: Not stereo. Slightly less bass than a Charge 5.
Full JBL Charge Essential 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 930 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Soundcore Motion 100
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Teufel Rockster XS
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Pulse 5
- See all 23 comparisons
Xiaomi Sound Party: $133.62 Aliexpress
Pros: Sounds pretty balanced overall, more neutral than the Charge 5. Nice passive radiator visual effect. Plays clean out of the box, unlike the JBL Charge 6’s default tuning, which has noticeable mid distortion. Better off-axis dispersion than the VIFA Helsinki thanks to its tweeter. One of the best-performing speakers for its price and size.
Cons: Bass can sound slightly thuddy at high volume, 180hz peak. Can’t match the Soundcore Boom 2 on raw bass output and loudness. Bass and treble are noticeably boosted by default, which listeners who prefer a neutral sound may want to EQ down.
Full Xiaomi Sound Party review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10" x 3.6" x 3.6" (255 x 92 x 92 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm woofers (35W total) + 2x 15mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs / 1200 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Xiaomi Sound Party - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party - first look
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party vs Boom 2 & Helsinki
- Alan Ross: JBL Charge 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Party – Honest No-BS Comparison More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross: Xiaomi Sound Party or Soundcore Boom 2 - 4 db louder?!
- Grimluck: XIAOMI Sound Party Review and Comparison (Jbl charge and Xiaomi outdoor)
- Jefferson C: XIAOMI Sound Party 2025
- Reddit Search for Xiaomi Sound Party Review
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- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Tribit Xsound Mega
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- Xiaomi Sound Party vs JBL Flip 7
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Soundcore Boost “original model” pre-2021
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs JBL Flip 6
- See all 23 comparisons