Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It ranks #40 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The LG Xboom XG5 ranks #126, rated 2.4/5, at $99, $100.95 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE does well: Gets louder than the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen and digs deeper in the bass, with a separate 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators and 40W of amplification in the familiar Charge body. The catch: In side-by-side listening against the 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 case for the LG Xboom XG5: IP67 rated. The catch: Peaky midrange, rolled off treble.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $100.95 you would save on the LG Xboom XG5 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | LG Xboom XG5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #40 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (LG XBOOM app) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 10 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.7” x 3.3” x 3.1” (222 x 83 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x 42x80mm track-type woofer + 1x passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 20W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Charge Essential 3 SE:
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- JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: $199.95 JBL eBay
Older models: the JBL Charge Essential 2 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5) and the JBL Charge Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Gets louder than the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen and digs deeper in the bass, with a separate 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators and 40W of amplification in the familiar Charge body. IP67 water and dust protection, a claimed 20 hours of battery life, a USB-C power bank output, Auracast stereo pairing and multi-speaker linking, Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC, and app EQ.
Cons: In side-by-side listening against the 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. Against the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen it sounds muddier and more strident, with less detail and a smaller soundstage. At full price it costs as much as the Charge 6, which is the better speaker.
Full JBL Charge Essential 3 SE review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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LG Xboom XG5: $99.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated. 18 hour battery life (~17 hrs confirmed in testing) with fast USB-C charging. Wireless Party Link connects up to 10 speakers.
Cons: Peaky midrange, rolled off treble. Not very good sounding
Full LG Xboom XG5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 3.3” x 3.1” (222 x 83 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 42x80mm track-type woofer + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 10 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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