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 LG Xboom Grab ranks #106, rated 3.0/5, at $104.99, $94.96 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the better-sounding option. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. 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 LG Xboom Grab is the lighter pick. A rugged waterproof speaker with elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The catch: Bass extension not as deep as the top speakers.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $94.96 saving on the LG Xboom Grab is not enough to make up the difference.
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 | LG Xboom Grab | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $104.99 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #106 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | AAC, SBC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.3” x 2.8” x 2.8” (211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x 80x45mm racetrack woofer, 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 30W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (mounting straps) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 75Hz |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- LG Xboom Grab: reviews by GYMCADDY, FishBee Product and Mike O’Brien.
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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