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 Teufel Rockster Go 2 ranks #80, rated 3.2/5, at $129.99, $69.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
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. Watch for: 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.
Why pick the Teufel Rockster Go 2: At 0.74 kg, the IP67 Rockster Go 2 is genuinely easy to carry, and its claimed 28-hour battery life, USB-C fast charging, stereo pairing, and tripod mount suit outdoor use. The tradeoff: There is no companion app or 3.5 mm input.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $69.96 you would save on the Teufel Rockster Go 2 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | Teufel Rockster Go 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #40 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Teufel Go) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours, 28 with Eco Mode (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.6 lbs (735 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.3” x 4.3” x 2.4” (211 x 109 x 61 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 2x 50mm wide-band drivers + 1x 64mm passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 8W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C sound card) |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Charging Time | - | 2.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge Essential 3 SE:
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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
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Teufel Rockster Go 2: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Teufel Rockster Go (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5).
Pros: At 0.74 kg, the IP67 Rockster Go 2 is genuinely easy to carry, and its claimed 28-hour battery life, USB-C fast charging, stereo pairing, and tripod mount suit outdoor use. Independent listening found a balanced, clear midrange and tuneful bass at sensible levels.
Cons: There is no companion app or 3.5 mm input. Reviewers found it loses some definition at maximum volume, and the claimed battery figure is optimistic for loud outdoor playback.
Full Teufel Rockster Go 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Teufel Go) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours, 28 with Eco Mode (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C sound card) |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 4.3” x 2.4” (211 x 109 x 61 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm wide-band drivers + 1x 64mm passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (735 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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