Short answer: the Beats Pill 2024, mostly on price and features. At $99.95 it undercuts the JBL Flip Essential at $130 by $30.05 while adding a USB-C charge-out function, though its boosted upper bass is somewhat thuddy. The Flip Essential’s advantage is an aux input for wired sources, but it has less bass than a Flip 5.
Buy the Beats Pill 2024. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the JBL Flip Essential is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Beats Pill 2024 | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.95 | $130 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #70 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #77 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 2.8” x 2.8” (219 x 71 x 70 mm) | 6.7” x 2.5” x 2.5” (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x drivers with dual passive radiators | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | - |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 16W RMS |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Beats Pill 2024 compares with other leading options:
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Beats Pill 2024
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Minirig 4
- Beats Pill 2024 vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- JBL Charge 6 vs Beats Pill 2024
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Beats Pill 2024: $99.95 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Beats Pill+ (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5).
Pros: Doubles as a power bank (USB-C charge-out). 24 hour battery life; a 10 min quick-charge gives 2 hours. IP67 rated. Stereo pairs with a second Pill. Measured bass extension of ~56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass, somewhat thuddy. Slightly recessed mids. Rolled off treble.
Full Beats Pill 2024 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~56Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 2.8” x 2.8” (219 x 71 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x drivers with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: New Beats Pill 2024: sound demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Beats Pill 2024 - first & last impression
- DailyTekk: NEW Beats Pill First Impressions & Sound Test - Worth $149?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beats Pill vs Harman Luna vs Bose Flex vs Soundcore Motion Plus More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Beats Pill (by Apple) 2024 version review vs JBL and Soundcore!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Beats Pill 2024 vs JBL Flip 5
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- Beats Pill 2024 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Sony XB33
- Beats Pill 2024 vs JBL Flip 4
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Sony XB23
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Klipsch Nashville
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- See all 78 comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip Essential 2, ranked higher, rated 3.3/5.
Pros: A genuinely portable 471g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, a 3.5mm aux input and 16W output from two full-range drivers. It is a simple, no-app option for wired sources, travel and casual listening where its cylindrical shape and modest size are a genuine advantage.
Cons: Bass is lighter than the Flip 5 and the 80Hz claimed low-frequency limit means it cannot deliver real low-end weight. Battery life is only a claimed 10 hours, there is no speakerphone, EQ or party mode, and its older Bluetooth 4.1 platform and discontinued status make it a basic used-market choice.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7” x 2.5” x 2.5” (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge 3
- JBL Flip Essential vs Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Flip Essential vs Sony XB23
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge 2
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- See all 90 comparisons