Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $299 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.
The JBL Charge Essential is the lighter pick. A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. At 1.7 lbs (770 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the Sonos Play cannot. Watch for: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
What the Sonos Play does well: A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the Sonos Play. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #91 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sonos Play compares with other leading options: