Short answer: the Bogasing M5. It ranks #61 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $52.99 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge Essential ranks #91 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge Essential’s replacement, the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.7/5 at $199.95.
Why pick the JBL Charge Essential: A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. Watch for: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
The Bogasing M5 is the longer-running pick. A compact, backpack friendly speaker with very long battery life and USB-C charging at a budget price. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge Essential. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. The catch: Front/rear driver configuration.
Buy the Bogasing M5. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo.
A compact, backpack friendly speaker with very long battery life and USB-C charging at a budget price.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 | Bogasing M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $52.99 |
| Ranked | #91 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #61 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 1.7 lbs (757 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 30W system |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 6.3” x 3” x 2.8” (160 x 76 x 71 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 40W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Stereo | No | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 61Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
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