Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks #78 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.2/5); the Boat Stone 350/352/358 ranks #130 (rated 2.3/5).
What the JBL Charge Essential does well: Doubles as a power bank. Watch for: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
The case for the Boat Stone 350/352/358: Long battery life (12 hours), IPX5 water resistant, compact and portable, sturdy build, dual passive radiators. Watch for: Some midrange peaks, treble slightly rolled off.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Boat Stone 350/352/358.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | Boat Stone 350/352/358 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 | $15 |
| Ranked | #78 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #130 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes (multiple modes) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x 45mm drivers |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 3.5” x 7.1” (90 x 180 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 10W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 87Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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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: $73.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked higher, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential.
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
Full JBL Charge Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Charge 3
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Flip Essential
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- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
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- See all 121 comparisons
Boat Stone 350/352/358: $15 Amazon eBay
Pros: Long battery life (12 hours), IPX5 water resistant, compact and portable, sturdy build, dual passive radiators. Measured bass extension of 87Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Some midrange peaks, treble slightly rolled off. Not much bass. Same hardware as the Dayton Audio Boost
Full Boat Stone 350/352/358 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.5” x 7.1” (90 x 180 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x 45mm drivers |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
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