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 Sony SRS-XE200 ranks #149, rated 2.5/5, at $69.99, $129.96 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the better-sounding choice. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. Watch for: 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 case for the Sony SRS-XE200: A waterproof speaker with simple dedicated buttons, fast charging, and a shape that can prop up a phone or tablet. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. The tradeoff: Sounds hollow.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $129.96 with the Sony SRS-XE200 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | Sony SRS-XE200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #149 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony | Music Center app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 3.5” x 8.2” x 3.7” (90 x 208 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x 42x51mm full-range + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 10W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (included strap) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- Sony SRS-XE200: reviews by DLX Willington, Danny Pops and GYMCADDY.
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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: