Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, if you are buying new. The JBL Charge Essential ranks higher than the LG Xboom Grab (#91 vs #106 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.
What the JBL Charge Essential does well: A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. The tradeoff: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Why pick the LG Xboom Grab: A rugged waterproof speaker with elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: Bass extension not as deep as the top speakers.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Charge Essential; it is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Grab.
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 elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration.
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 | LG Xboom Grab | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $100.98 |
| Ranked | #91 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #106 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 1x 80x45mm racetrack woofer, 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 8.3” x 2.8” x 2.8” (211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 30W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | AAC, SBC |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (mounting straps) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 75Hz |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
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