Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks #68 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $73.99; the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 ranks #86 and costs $80, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the JBL Charge Essential: Doubles as a power bank. The catch: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
On the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 side: IP67 rated and floats. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Charge Essential is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 | $80 |
| Ranked | #68 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #86 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 3.5" x 3.4" (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 20W RMS | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 82Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 88dB |
| Stereo | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Teufel Rockster Go vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
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- JBL Charge 3 vs Tribit Stormbox 2
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- JBL Charge Essential vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge Essential: $73.99 Amazon
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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
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- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam
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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2: $80 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact and light enough to toss in a bag.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Slightly boosted 93hz upper bass Dip at 9khz. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2019. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 82Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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