Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It ranks #42 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) ranks #53, rated 3.6/5, at $194, $5.95 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the longer-running, tougher pick. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 13 for the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II). It is rated IP67 against IP55 for the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: In side-by-side listening against the JBL Charge 6, its bass is weaker and less stable and distorts on bass-heavy tracks even with the bass turned down in the app, while a narrow boost in the upper mids makes it sound less natural.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) is the lighter choice. A compact speaker that plays all around to fill a room, with a speakerphone mic and splash resistance. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS found it lacks low bass, so there’s little deep thump or rumble.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $5.95 saving on the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $194.00 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Bose Connect |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP55 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | - |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (152 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x full-range driver, 2x passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | - |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | Micro USB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | No | - |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II): reviews by Danny Pops, SoundGuys and RTINGS.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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