Short answer: the Bogasing M5. It ranks #64 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $52.99; the JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #81, rated 3.3/5, and costs $85.90, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Bogasing M5 is the longer-running choice. Compact enough for a backpack side pocket at under 1.7 lbs (771 g). It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. The tradeoff: Front/rear driver configuration.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter choice. Essentially a JBL Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. At 1.1 lbs (520 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Bogasing M5 at 1.7 lbs (757 g). The tradeoff: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the JBL Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.
Buy the Bogasing M5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential 2 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bogasing M5 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $52.99 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #64 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #81 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 61Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (757 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 3” x 2.8” (160 x 76 x 71 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 20W RMS |
| Drivers | 30W system | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Party Mode | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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
Bogasing M5: $52.99 Amazon $52.99 eBay
Older model: the Bogasing M4 (ranked higher, rated 4/5). See every Bogasing M generation.
Pros: Compact enough for a backpack side pocket at under 1.7 lb. Up to 30 hours of battery life. USB-C charging: no proprietary cable to lose. Measured bass extension of 61Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Front/rear driver configuration. Use bass mode for the flattest response. Sounds thin in the midrange. Hot treble and rolled off bass in default mode. Treble a bit rolled off in bass mode.
Full Bogasing M5 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2022 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 3” x 2.8” (160 x 76 x 71 mm) |
| Drivers | 30W system |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (757 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Flip Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon $85.90 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip Essential 3 SE, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5, released Apr 2026. It adds app control, adjustable EQ, stereo pairing and party mode. Battery life goes from 10 to 12 hours.
Older model: the JBL Flip Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5). See every JBL Flip Essential generation.
Pros: Essentially a JBL Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. In a side by side loudness test it got louder than the JBL Grip, and listeners comparing it with the Marshall Emberton found it more open sounding and clearer. IPX7 waterproof, 520 g, USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.1 with two phones connected at once.
Cons: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the JBL Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight. No app, no EQ, no PartyBoost or stereo pairing, a claimed 10 hours of battery, and IPX7 covers water but not dust.
Full JBL Flip Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Cristian Catalin’s Sound&Video: JBL Flip Essential 2 VS Marshall Emberton - sound comparison
- AudioTribe: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2 FULL TEARDOWN in Just 15 Minutes!
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. Flip 6 | Bass Sound Test!
- Angelicaaudio: Mini JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker Review
- Speaker Fan: JBL Flip 6 VS JBL Flip Essential 2 VS JBL Grip Loudness Test - Which Is Louder?
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