Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Plus 2. It ranks #36 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $64.99; the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE ranks #42, rated 3.7/5, and costs $199.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Tribit Xsound Plus 2: An affordable waterproof stereo speaker with long battery life and an app EQ that can tune it to sound well balanced. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. Watch for: Boosted treble, boosted bass in the factory EQs.
What the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE does well: 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 Tribit Xsound Plus 2 cannot. 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 Tribit Xsound Plus 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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
| Tribit Xsound Plus 2 | JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.99 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #36 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 | 16ms | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | SBC 233ms, AAC 240ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (798 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 2.8” x 2.6” (198 x 71 x 66 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm neodymium full-range drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Strap | Yes (strap) | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2: reviews by Oluv, Alan Ross and Storytripper HD.
- 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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