Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II if sound quality matters most, the JBL Flip Essential 2 if price matters most. The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II ranks #48 of 150 medium speakers, rated 3.6/5, at $269. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #71, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90, $183.10 cheaper.
The case for the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II: True 360° sound stays consistent no matter where you stand around it, unlike most portable speakers. Watch for: Overly boosted bass, warm sounding.
Why pick 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 Revolve+ II when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Flip Essential 2 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II is rated for 17 hours, the JBL Flip Essential 2 only 10 hours.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #48 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs (0.91 kg) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| App | Bose Connect | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Drivers | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer + 2x passive radiators (driver size undisclosed by Bose) | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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 Revolve+ II: $269.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ (ranked lower, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: True 360° sound stays consistent no matter where you stand around it, unlike most portable speakers.
Cons: Overly boosted bass, warm sounding. Boosted mids. Rolled off treble. Only IP55.
Full Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II review and specifications →
| App | Bose Connect |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer + 2x passive radiators (driver size undisclosed by Bose) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (0.91 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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JBL Flip Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon eBay
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 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
- AudioTribe: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2 FULL TEARDOWN in Just 15 Minutes!
- Speaker Fan: JBL Flip 6 VS JBL Flip Essential 2 VS JBL Grip Loudness Test - Which Is Louder?
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. Flip 6 | Bass Sound Test!
- Cristian Catalin’s Sound&Video: JBL Flip Essential 2 VS Marshall Emberton - sound comparison
- Angelicaaudio: Mini JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker Review
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