Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. Both are rated 3.7/5 for sound quality (#42 and #47 of 182 medium speakers), and the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE costs $199.95 against $224.99 for the JBL Pulse 5, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the longer-running, lighter choice. 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 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 2.1 lbs (960 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 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.
What the JBL Pulse 5 does well: A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers. The catch: Bass is limited by its ~58Hz specification.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $25.04 less than the JBL Pulse 5.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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 Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $224.99 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 40W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- JBL Pulse 5: reviews by M1MTechChannel, Techder Audios and Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More.
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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