Short answer: the Miatone Boompro. It ranks #16 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $35.99; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Miatone Boompro is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A cheap waterproof speaker with very well balanced sound, even at full volume, and a 16 hour battery. At 1.1 lbs (500 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). Watch for: Slightly less bass extension than higher ranked speakers.
The case for the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Miatone Boompro lacks. 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 Miatone Boompro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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
| Miatone Boompro | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.99 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #16 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Drivers | Dual drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 7.3”H x 2.8”W x 2.8”D (185 x 71 x 71 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 36W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Miatone Boompro: reviews by SpeakerBlowUpMan Lee.
- 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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
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