JBL Charge Essential vs Marshall Emberton III

Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, if you are buying new. The JBL Charge Essential ranks higher than the Marshall Emberton III (#92 vs #126 of 175 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.

The JBL Charge Essential is the better-sounding pick. Doubles as a power bank. Watch for: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.

The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running pick. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge Essential. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.

Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Charge Essential; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 Discontinued Amazon $73.99 eBay

Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked higher, rated 3.7/5, released Apr 2026. See every JBL Charge Essential generation.

Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential.

Cons: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded JBL Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound. Discontinued.

Full JBL Charge Essential review and specifications →

Released	Jul 2020 (6 years ago)
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
  • Official JBL Charge Essential Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon $129.99 eBay

Older models: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the Marshall Emberton (ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.

Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).

Pros: 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud. Not really any different from the Marshall Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.

Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →

Released	Aug 2024 (2 years ago)
Amplifier Power	20W
App	Yes
Aux Input	No
Bass Extension (-10dB)	62Hz
Battery Life	32 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
Bluetooth Codecs	SBC
Bluetooth Version	5.3
Built-in Microphone	Yes
Digital Aux Input	No
Dimensions	6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm)
Drivers	2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators
EQ	Yes (3 presets via app)
IP Rating	IP67
Omnidirectional	Yes
Party Mode	Yes (Marshall Stack)
Power Bank	No
Power Input	USB-C
Stereo	Yes
Strap	No
TWS	No
Weight	1.5 lbs (673 g)

• Links
  • Official Marshall Emberton III Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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