JBL Charge Essential 3 SE Review: Rated 3.7/5

Last updated: November 7, 2026

The JBL Charge Essential 3 SE is rated 3.7/5 for sound quality, #42 of 179 Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers. See all Portable Bluetooth rankings for every top pick.

JBL Charge Essential 3 SE · Editor's rating 3.7/5, ranked #42 of 179 Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Check price at JBL ($199.95) →

Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Brand: JBL

#42 JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: $199.95 JBL $199.95 eBay

Older models: the JBL Charge Essential 2 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5) and the JBL Charge Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5). See every JBL Charge Essential generation.

Pros: A fully waterproof speaker with plenty of volume and bass, long battery life, a phone charging port, app EQ and Auracast pairing. Gets louder than the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen and digs deeper in the bass, with a separate 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators and 40W of amplification in the familiar Charge body. IP67 water and dust protection, a claimed 20 hours of battery life, a USB-C power bank output, Auracast stereo pairing and multi-speaker linking, Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC, and app EQ.

Cons: 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. Against the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen it sounds muddier and more strident, with less detail and a smaller soundstage. At full price it costs as much as the JBL Charge 6, which is the better speaker.

Is the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE right for you?

Buy it if

  • you want it outdoors, by the pool or in the shower (IP67).
  • you want long battery life (claimed 20 hours).
  • you want to charge your phone from it.

Skip it if

  • you want the best value: the higher-rated EarFun Uboom L costs about $150 less.
ReleasedApr 2026 (7 months ago)
Amplifier Power40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter)
AppYes
Aux InputNo
Battery Life20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, LC3
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm)
Drivers52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators
EQYes
Frequency Response60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingIP67
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankYes (USB-C)
Power InputUSB-C (5V/3A)
StereoNo
StrapNo
TWSYes (Auracast)
Weight2.1 lbs (960 g)
Check current price at JBL ($199.95) →Search eBay for JBL Charge Essential 3 SE →

Head-to-Head Comparisons

101 comparisons

More JBL speakers →

Questions about the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE? Ask other owners on r/WirelessSpeakers.