Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #46 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $49.99 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 longer-running option. A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. The catch: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor is the better-sounding, lighter pick. An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers. At 1.3 lbs (597 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential at 1.7 lbs (770 g). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Bass reach is limited for the cabinet size, with a rated lower limit of 60Hz, and the boosted bass gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
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 | Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 Discontinued | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #91 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 177 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) | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 1.3 lbs (597 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.4 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 30W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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