Short answer: the Minirig 4. It ranks #6 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $229.95. The JBL Charge 3 ranks #77, rated 3.2/5, at $80, $149.95 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Minirig 4 does well: Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. The tradeoff: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The case for the JBL Charge 3: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices. ~20 hour battery life. The catch: Less clarity than the Flip 4.
One note: the JBL Charge 3 is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
Buy the Minirig 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $149.95 you would save on the JBL Charge 3 does not close the gap.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Charge 3 is rated at IPX7 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Minirig 4 at Splash resistant (splashing).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 | JBL Charge 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.95 | $80 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #6 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #77 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (JBL Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 20W RMS |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Minirig 4: $229.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Minirig 3 (ranked lower, rated 4.3/5) and the Minirig 2 (ranked lower, rated 4.3/5).
Pros: Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Finally USB-C charging. Dynamically changes sound based on forward facing or upward facing orientation. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker
Full Minirig 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Charge 3: $80 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: Doubles as a 6000mAh power bank for USB devices. ~20 hour battery life. IPX7 rated; built-in noise/echo-cancelling speakerphone. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4. Battery failures are common. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (JBL Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.5” (213 x 88 x 88 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (800 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3 - small one or a large one? 🤷♂️
- DLX Willington: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 4 :Sound Battle: Almost to the size of the JBL Charge 3? More from DLXWillington →
- EnforcerMan: JBL CHARGE 3 VS TREBLAB HD77 - FULL REVIEW
- Head-to-Head Comparisons