Short answer: the Harman Kardon Luna on measured sound quality, the JBL Flip Essential on price. The Harman Kardon Luna ranks #22 of 136 medium speakers at $290.99. The JBL Flip Essential ranks #66 at $130, $160.99 cheaper.
What the Harman Kardon Luna offers: Pretty balanced sound besides the boosted bass. Watch for: Not stereo. Boosted bass, not as detailed as higher ranked speakers
What the JBL Flip Essential offers: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5. Watch for: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Buy the Harman Kardon Luna when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Flip Essential when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Luna | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $290.99 | $130 |
| Ranked | #22 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs / 1.13 kg | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.3" x 3.1" x 3.1" (210 x 78 x 80 mm) | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 40W | 16W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
Harman Kardon Luna: $290.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty balanced sound besides the boosted bass.
Cons: Not stereo. Boosted bass, not as detailed as higher ranked speakers
Full Harman Kardon Luna review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3" x 3.1" x 3.1" (210 x 78 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs / 1.13 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon Luna - sound demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beats Pill vs Harman Luna vs Bose Flex vs Soundcore Motion Plus More from alanrossreviews →
- Storytripper HD: Klipsch Nashville vs Harman Kardon Luna vs Soundcore Motion 300 More from storytripperhd →
- Reddit Search for Harman Kardon Luna Review
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- See all 72 comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130 eBay
Pros: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5.
Cons: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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