Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #80 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.3/5) at $85.90 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge Essential ranks #91 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge Essential’s replacement, the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.7/5 at $199.95.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter choice. 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 noticeably less than the JBL Charge Essential at 1.7 lbs (770 g). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. 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.
The JBL Charge Essential is the longer-running option. A waterproof speaker with long battery life that charges your phone and pairs with a second unit for stereo. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It links with other speakers (Connect+ up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. The catch: Less clarity than the JBL Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the JBL Charge Essential is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $73.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 20W RMS |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | No | No |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
- JBL Charge Essential: reviews by Techder Audios, Flossy Carter and The Tech Files.
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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