Short answer: the Minirig 4. It ranks #7 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $229.95. The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95, $30 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Minirig 4 is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. At 1.2 lbs (550 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE at 2.1 lbs (960 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. The catch: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is the tougher 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 IP67 against Splash resistant for the Minirig 4. The catch: 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 Minirig 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $30 with the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.95 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #7 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Minirig 4: reviews by Oluv, Alan Ross and Beautiful Zar DJ.
- 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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