Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 2 for better sound quality, the Tribit Stormbox 2 for the lower price. The JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #35 of 136 medium speakers at $130. The Tribit Stormbox 2 ranks #80 at $70, $60 cheaper.
What the JBL Charge Essential 2 offers: Doubles as a power bank. IP67 rated. Close to Charge 5 performance at a lower price. Watch for: Not stereo. Slightly less bass than a Charge 5.
What the Tribit Stormbox 2 offers: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response. Watch for: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 2 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Tribit Stormbox 2 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 2 | Tribit Stormbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $70 |
| Ranked | #35 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | No | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 930 g | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 40W | 34W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 200ms |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| TWS | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs JBL Flip 6
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs JBL Charge 4
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Flip 4
- JBL Flip Essential vs Tribit Stormbox 2
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge Essential 2: $130 eBay
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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- 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 Teufel Rockster XS
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs JBL Pulse 5
- See all 74 comparisons
Tribit Stormbox 2: $70 Amazon eBay
Pros: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response.
Cons: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Full Tribit Stormbox 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Latency | 200ms |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 34W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox 2 - sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox 2 - wow is this deliberate? 🤔 More from alanrossreviews →
- Storytripper HD: Tribit Micro 2 vs Tribit STormBox 2 vs Tribit StormBox Mini More from storytripperhd →
- Reddit Search for Tribit Stormbox 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Treblab HD77
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Tribit Stormbox 2 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- See all 75 comparisons