Short answer: the JBL Flip 6. It ranks #13 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $114.95; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Flip 6 is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A small, rugged speaker with very neutral sound for its size, an excellent choice for most people. At 1.2 lbs (544 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). The tradeoff: Some slight upper mids emphasis.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the longer-running option. A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Flip 6. Watch for: In side-by-side listening against the JBL Charge 6, its bass is weaker and less stable and distorts on bass-heavy tracks even with the bass turned down in the app, while a narrow boost in the upper mids makes it sound less natural.
Buy the JBL Flip 6. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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 Flip 6 | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #13 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (544 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (176 x 68 x 72 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 44mm x 80mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip 6: reviews by Joy & Oluv’Sone, Oluv and Alan Ross.
- JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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