Short answer: the JBL Charge 6. It ranks #12 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $149.95. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #80, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90, $64.05 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge 6 is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A waterproof medium speaker with a long battery and a power bank output, with more balanced sound than older Charge models. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. The tradeoff: Still some boosted bass by default.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter option. A compact, affordable waterproof speaker that gets fairly loud for its size and connects to two phones at once. At 1.1 lbs (520 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 6 at 2.2 lbs (990 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 JBL Charge 6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $64.05 with the JBL Flip Essential 2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #12 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (990 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.9” x 3.7” (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 45W | 20W RMS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge 6: reviews by Joy & Oluv’Sone, JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show and Oluv.
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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