Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #80 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.3/5) at $85.90 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge 3 ranks #90 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge 3’s replacement, the JBL Charge 6, is rated 4.2/5 at $149.95.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter choice. A compact, affordable waterproof speaker that gets fairly loud for its size and connects to two phones at once. At 1.1 lbs (520 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 3 at 1.8 lbs (800 g). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the JBL Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.
The JBL Charge 3 is the longer-running pick. A waterproof speaker with long battery life, a speakerphone and a big battery that charges your phone. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. The tradeoff: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge 3 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | JBL Charge 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $80 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #90 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 20W RMS |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | No | No |
| App | No | Yes (JBL Connect) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
- JBL Charge 3: reviews by Alan Ross, DLX Willington and EnforcerMan.
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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