Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks #78 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $73.99. The Doss E-Go II ranks #124, rated 2.5/5, at $39.90, $34.09 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the JBL Charge Essential: Doubles as a power bank. Watch for: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Why pick the Doss E-Go II: Very portable (water bottle sized), truly waterproof (IPX6), 12-hour battery life, excellent value for money, fast Bluetooth pairing. The catch: Horribly bad unless turned up, still not great.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $34.09 you would save on the Doss E-Go II does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | Doss E-Go II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 | $39.90 |
| Ranked | #78 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #124 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 0.9 lbs (399 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 2x 6W full-range drivers + 1x passive radiator |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 7.8” x 2.5” x 2” (198 x 63 x 51 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 12W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| 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 | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 120Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Charge Essential compares with other leading options:
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- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge Essential
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Charge Essential vs Minirig 4
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
- JBL Charge Essential vs Teufel Rockster Go 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs Tronsmart Mirtune C3 Plus
- JBL Charge Essential vs Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam
- See all 121 comparisons
Doss E-Go II: $39.90 Amazon eBay
Pros: Very portable (water bottle sized), truly waterproof (IPX6), 12-hour battery life, excellent value for money, fast Bluetooth pairing. Measured bass extension of 120Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Horribly bad unless turned up, still not great
Full Doss E-Go II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 12W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 120Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 2.5” x 2” (198 x 63 x 51 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6W full-range drivers + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (399 g) |
- 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.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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