Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It ranks #43 of 164 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $199.95 and is still sold new; the Tribit Stormbox Mini ranks #139 (rated 2.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. 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. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Tribit Stormbox Mini. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Tribit Stormbox Mini lacks. The tradeoff: 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 Tribit Stormbox Mini is the lighter pick. IPX7 waterproof, excellent battery life (12 hours), RGB LED lighting, app support with AAC codec, true wireless stereo (TWS) capability, USB-C charging. At 1.6 lbs (708 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. Watch for: Lacking quite a bit of bass.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Tribit Stormbox Mini is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | Tribit Stormbox Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $23 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #43 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #139 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.6 lbs (708 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 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) | 3.6” x 3.6” x 4.7” (91 x 91 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 2x 48mm 6W full-range drivers + 1x passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 12W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~85Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Charge Essential 3 SE compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom L vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Minirig 4 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Minirig 3 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Minirig 2 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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Tribit Stormbox Mini: $23 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Tribit Stormbox Mini+, ranked higher, rated 2.5/5.
Pros: IPX7 waterproof, excellent battery life (12 hours), RGB LED lighting, app support with AAC codec, true wireless stereo (TWS) capability, USB-C charging. Measured bass extension of ~85Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking quite a bit of bass. Sounds hollow and thuddy. Just not great overall. Discontinued; Tribit has retired it, superseded by the Stormbox Mini+.
Full Tribit Stormbox Mini review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 12W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~85Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.6” x 3.6” x 4.7” (91 x 91 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm 6W full-range drivers + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (708 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Dominik Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Mini - 30$ hit or miss? vs Tribit Micro 2 More from Dominik Reviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Mini - Bluetooth Speaker Review 🥴Did Tribit Miss the Mark 🎯 On This One?🤔 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Storytripper HD: Tribit Micro 2 vs Tribit STormBox 2 vs Tribit StormBox Mini More from storytripperhd →
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