Short answer: the JBL Flip 7, if you are buying new. The JBL Flip 4 measures as well as the JBL Flip Essential 2 (#79 vs #78 of 173 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the JBL Flip 7, is rated 4.2/5 at $89.95 and is still sold new.
The case for the JBL Flip 4: At 1.1 lbs (510 g), JBL Flip 4 combines 2x 40mm fullrange with Bluetooth and aux. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Flip Essential 2. Watch for: Battery failures are common.
What the JBL Flip Essential 2 does well: Essentially a JBL Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. 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 Flip 7, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Flip 4; it is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential 2.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
At 510 g, JBL Flip 4 combines 2x 40mm fullrange with Bluetooth and aux.
Amazon $70 eBay
Essentially a JBL Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz.
Amazon $70.15 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 19, 2026 at 10:32 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 Flip 4 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $70 Discontinued | $70.15 |
| Ranked | #79 of 173 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #78 of 173 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (510 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.8” x 2.6” (175 x 70 x 65 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS | 20W RMS |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | - |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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