Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Flip Essential 2

Last updated: September 30, 2026

Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks #35 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $159. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #71, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90, $73.10 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.

Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Flip Essential 2

Why pick the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. Watch for: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing.

The case for the JBL Flip Essential 2: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. The catch: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.

Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $73.10 saving on the JBL Flip Essential 2 is not enough to make up the difference.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen at Amazon ($159.00) →Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2 at Amazon ($85.90) →

Specifications Side By Side

Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen JBL Flip Essential 2
Price$159.00$85.90
Ranked#35 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYesNo
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)10 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built-in MicrophoneYes-
EQYes (3 band)No
IP RatingIP67IPX7
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)No
Power InputUSB-CUSB-C
StereoNoNo
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSYesNo
Weight1.3 lbs (586 g)1.1 lbs (520 g)
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth Version5.35.1
Dimensions7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm)6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm)
Aux InputNoNo
Drivers60mm full-range driver with passive radiators1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX AdaptiveSBC
Digital Aux InputNoNo
StrapYes (built-in loop)-
Amplifier Power-20W RMS
Power Bank-No
Frequency Response-65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen at Amazon ($159.00) →Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2 at Amazon ($85.90) →

How Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen compares with other leading options:

Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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

Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranking card

Older model: the Bose Soundlink Flex (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).

Pros: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. The second generation adds a Bose app with 3-band EQ, better-placed controls and stereo pairing with another Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It supports AAC and aptX Adaptive in addition to SBC, making it a stronger wireless option than most small rivals.

Cons: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing. The claimed battery life is only 12 hours, and some owners report accelerated standby drain after firmware updates. It is expensive for its size, so the added app and codec support, not a transformational sound upgrade over the original, are the main reasons to choose it.

Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →

AppYes
Aux InputNo
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
Bluetooth Version5.3
Built-in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm)
Drivers60mm full-range driver with passive radiators
EQYes (3 band)
IP RatingIP67
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)
Power InputUSB-C
StereoNo
StrapYes (built-in loop)
TWSYes
Weight1.3 lbs (586 g)
Check current price at Amazon ($159.00) →Search eBay for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen →

JBL Flip Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon eBay

JBL Flip Essential 2 ranking card

Older model: the JBL Flip Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).

Pros: Essentially a 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 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 →

Amplifier Power20W RMS
AppNo
Aux InputNo
Battery Life10 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version5.1
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm)
Drivers1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators
EQNo
Frequency Response65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingIPX7
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeNo
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoNo
TWSNo
Weight1.1 lbs (520 g)
Check current price at Amazon ($85.90) →Search eBay for JBL Flip Essential 2 →