Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE on measured sound quality, the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus on price. The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42 of 182 medium speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus ranks #84, rated 3.3/5, at $49.99, $149.96 cheaper.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus lacks. 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.
What the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus does well: An affordable waterproof speaker with a separate tweeter, app EQ, Auracast linking, stereo pairing and USB-C audio input. The catch: In side by side tests by Clinch Audio Bass and Mateusz Cholewa, the Xiaomi Sound Party and Soundcore Boom 3i sounded more refined and fuller, and listeners described the C3 Plus’s treble as dull.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus if the price matters more than sound quality.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #84 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours at 50% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.8 lbs (0.81 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.3”H x 3.1”W x 3.3”D (210 x 80 x 85 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 1x racetrack woofer + 1x tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 50W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (lanyard) |
| Charging Time | - | 4 hours |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
- Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus: reviews by Oluv, Mateusz Cholewa and Techder Audios.
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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