Short answer: the JBL Flip 7. It ranks #15 of 179 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, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Flip 7 is the much better speaker. It is very neutral with a separate tweeter, reaches about 59Hz and measured about 100dB. The Flip Essential 2 has a single racetrack driver with no tweeter, essentially a Flip 5, and side by side tests found it well behind the Flip 6, which the Flip 7 builds on.
Features favor the Flip 7: IP68 against IPX7, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast linking, AAC and a USB-C wired audio input, with a claimed 14 hours against 10. The Flip Essential 2 has no app, EQ or multi-speaker linking.
Size is almost identical, 1.2 lbs (560 g) against 1.1 lbs (520 g). The Flip Essential 2’s appeal is price alone.
Buy the JBL Flip 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $64.05 you would save on the JBL Flip Essential 2 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #15 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | 20W RMS |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Flip 7: