Short answer: the Tronsmart T8. It ranks #54 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.6/5) at $49.99 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge Essential ranks #91 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge Essential’s replacement, the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.7/5 at $199.95.
The Tronsmart T8 is the better-sounding pick. An affordable waterproof speaker with upward firing drivers that spread sound around, plus lights, app EQ, an aux input and stereo pairing. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass.
What the JBL Charge Essential does well: A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. The catch: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Buy the Tronsmart T8. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued.
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
| Tronsmart T8 | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $73.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #54 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Stereo | Partially | No |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 20W RMS |
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (app) | No |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Tronsmart T8: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa, Techder Audios and Jagist.
- JBL Charge Essential: reviews by Techder Audios, Flossy Carter and The Tech Files.
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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