Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks #31 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $118.99; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Soundcore Boom 3i: A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value. The catch: Not quite as good as a JBL Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
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 links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Soundcore Boom 3i cannot. The tradeoff: 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 Soundcore Boom 3i. 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
| Soundcore Boom 3i | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.99 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #31 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 | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Soundcore Boom 3i: reviews by Oluv, Mateusz Cholewa and Picky Audio.
- 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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