Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, if you are buying new. The JBL Charge Essential ranks higher than the B&O Beosound Explore (#91 vs #142 of 177 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.7/5 at $199.95 and is still sold new.
The Charge Essential is the cheaper, better-sounding pick. Two 50mm drivers on 20W, a claimed 20-hour battery, a power bank port and IPX7 protection make it a rebadged Charge 3, and it links with other JBL speakers and stereo-pairs. Its highs are rolled off, and it charges over Micro USB.
The Beosound Explore is a rugged aluminum speaker with weak bass. It is IP67 with a strap and carabiner, and real-world battery life runs about 20 to 24 hours. Its bass falls 10dB around 70Hz, well short of rivals, its treble is hot and ringing, and its midrange is colored.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Charge Essential; it is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #91 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 60W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (carabiner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~70Hz |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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