Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE on measured sound quality, the JBL Grip on price. The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42 of 182 medium speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The JBL Grip ranks #98, rated 3.1/5, at $69.95, $130 cheaper.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the better-sounding, longer-running 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 14 for the JBL Grip. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Grip lacks. 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 JBL Grip is the lighter choice. A small, fully waterproof speaker with app EQ, ambient lighting, Auracast linking and USB-C audio input. At 0.8 lbs (385 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The catch: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Grip if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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 3 SE | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #98 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 16W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- JBL Grip: reviews by Oluv, M1MTechChannel and Speaker Fan.
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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