Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #34 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $89; the JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #35 and costs $130, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Bose Soundlink Flex: IP67 rated; rugged enough to survive drops from several feet and floats. The tradeoff: Not stereo.
What the JBL Charge Essential 2 gets right: Doubles as a power bank. The catch: Not stereo.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Charge Essential 2 is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Bose Soundlink Flex.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 | $130 |
| Ranked | #34 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #35 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Max Volume | 96dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 589 g | 2.1 lbs / 930 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 40W |
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- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Motion 300
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex: $89.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated; rugged enough to survive drops from several feet and floats. Around 12 hours of battery at moderate volume.
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail
Full Bose Soundlink Flex review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 589 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex Review! vs JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5. Travel heaven?? 🤞
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beats Pill vs Harman Luna vs Bose Flex vs Soundcore Motion Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex vs Soundcore Boost vs Bogasing M4 - cheap or Bose?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but………..
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Soundcore Motion 300 (LDAC) 😵 Budget Bose Soundlink Flex “Inspired” Speakers
- Oluv Patreon: Soundcore Motion 300 = Bose Soundlink Flex = Earfun UBoom L?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex or JBL Flip 6 (eq adjusted) or Denon Envaya - best speaker for travel!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex or Beosound A1 (1st gen) - ultimate compact speaker 😇
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex or JBL Flip 6 (eq adjusted) or Denon Envaya - best speaker for travel!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Soundcore Motion 300 (LDAC) 😵 Budget Bose Soundlink Flex “Inspired” Speakers
- Patricio Benadon: Bose SoundLink Flex vs. Mini 2 SE. Music audio quality sound test. Listen 4 different genres!
- Patricio Benadon: Bose SoundLink Flex vs. Mini 2 SE. Music audio quality sound test. Listen 4 different genres!
- Danny Pops: BEST Bose Speaker?? Bose Soundlink Flex vs micro, Color II, and revolve +
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex vs Minirig MK3 and Marshall Emberton - best bluetooth speaker?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Flex Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs JBL Charge 5
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Bogasing M4
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Xiaomi Sound Party
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JBL Charge Essential 2: $130
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IP67 rated. Close to Charge 5 performance at a lower price.
Cons: Not stereo. Slightly less bass than a Charge 5.
Full JBL Charge Essential 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 930 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Soundcore Motion 100
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Charge 5
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Flip 7
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Charge 6
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