Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks #68 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $73.99; the Ultimate Ears Roll 2 ranks #125 and costs $100, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the JBL Charge Essential offers: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential. Watch for: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
What the Ultimate Ears Roll 2 offers: Thin, flat profile fits easily in a bag or purse; light at 0.73 lb. Built-in bungee cord for hanging from a hook, nail, or door handle. Life-resistant waterproof/dustproof shell. Watch for: Not stereo. Barely any bass, rolled off treble off axis
Buy the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Roll 2 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
The Ultimate Ears Roll 2 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers; there are better options higher up.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Charge Essential is rated for 20 hours, the Ultimate Ears Roll 2 only 9 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | Ultimate Ears Roll 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 | $100 |
| Ranked | #68 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #125 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (UE Roll app) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 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 | 0.7 lbs / 330 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 1x 2" full-range + 2x 0.75" tweeters |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 3.5" x 3.4" (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 5.9" x 5.3" x 1.6" (149.5 x 135 x 40 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 20W RMS | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | - | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Sony XB23 vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Grip
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential More from FlossyCarter →
- Techder Audios: JBL EXTREME 3 VS JBL CHARGE ESSENTIAL More from techderaudios →
- The Tech Files: JBL CHARGE ESSENTIAL VS CHARGE ESSENTIAL 2 COMPARATIVO AMBIENTE EXTERNO
- Reddit Search for JBL Charge Essential Review
- 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 Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sony XB23
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Flip 4
- See all 74 comparisons
Ultimate Ears Roll 2: $100 eBay
Pros: Thin, flat profile fits easily in a bag or purse; light at 0.73 lb. Built-in bungee cord for hanging from a hook, nail, or door handle. Life-resistant waterproof/dustproof shell.
Cons: Not stereo. Barely any bass, rolled off treble off axis
Full Ultimate Ears Roll 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (UE Roll app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.9" x 5.3" x 1.6" (149.5 x 135 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" full-range + 2x 0.75" tweeters |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 330 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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