Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2. It ranks #39 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $129.99. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #80, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90, $44.09 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Charge Essential 2 is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. Watch for: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter pick. 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 Essential 2 at 2.1 lbs (930 g). Watch for: 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 Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $44.09 you would save on the JBL Flip Essential 2 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #39 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 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 | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 20W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Charge Essential 2: reviews by The Tech Files.
- 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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