Short answer: the JBL Flip 7 for music, the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 for calls. The Flip 7 is very neutral and almost pocket size, with a little bump at 4kHz as its flaw. The Esquire 2 doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation, but its bass is weak, its separation is underwhelming and it sounds tinny at high volume.
Buy the JBL Flip 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Flip 7 is rated for 14 hours, the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 only 8 hours.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Flip 7 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #15 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #145 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | 16W |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Flip 7 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Flip 7 vs Earfun Uboom L
- JBL Flip 7 vs Soundcore Motion 300
- JBL Flip 7 vs Soundcore Motion+
- JBL Flip 7 vs Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021
- JBL Flip 7 vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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
JBL Flip 7: $119.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Flip 6 (ranked higher, rated 4.2/5), the JBL Flip 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the JBL Flip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size. Just slightly more treble than the Flip 6 which was already a great speaker. Slightly deeper bass than the Flip 6. IP68 protection, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast and a USB-C digital audio input. Measured bass extension of 59Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the Flip 6. On balance it is the slightly worse of the two.
Full JBL Flip 7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 7 is screech-fest heaven! vs Flip 6!
- Chrispy Things [EDC]: JBL Flip 7: My thoughts & sound test VS the Flip 6!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Flip 7 Review - Is It Worth Upgrading Over The JBL Flip 6 Or Flip 5? More from GYMCADDY →
- Musou1: JBL flip 7 vs KEF muo vs Bose flex 2
- FishBee Product Reviews: LG XBOOM Grab (2025) by Will.i.am - BETTER Than JBL Flip 7?? More from FishBee Product Reviews →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Sony SRS-XE200
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
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