Short answer: the Charge Essential 2, and the original’s own review argues against it. It ranks #39 of 179 medium speakers at $74.91; the original Charge Essential ranks #91 at $73.99, $0.92 less, with cons that call it an overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound. The JBL Charge Essential is discontinued; its replacement is the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE.
The original’s stereo pairing is its one real differentiator, supporting true wireless stereo with a second Charge Essential, something the Essential 2 doesn’t offer. Our notes still describe less clarity than the JBL Flip 4 and rolled-off highs.
The Essential 2’s pros describe it plainly: close to Charge 5 performance at a lower price, with cons limited to not being stereo and carrying slightly less bass than the Charge 5.
Buy the Charge Essential 2. It ranks dramatically higher for a modest premium over the original.
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 simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $74.91 |
| Ranked | #91 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 40W |
| 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 | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~55Hz |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge Essential 2: