Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #67 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90; the JBL Flip Essential ranks #71, rated 3.2/5, and costs $130, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
A new driver design. The original Flip Essential uses two small full-range drivers with 16W and lighter bass, rated only down to 80Hz. The Flip Essential 2 uses a single larger 44 x 80mm racetrack driver with 20W, rated to 65Hz.
Connections: the original keeps a 3.5mm aux input, which the Flip Essential 2 drops. The Flip Essential 2 moves to USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.1 with two phones connected at once.
Same basics: both are IPX7, both claim 10 hours, and neither has an app, EQ or party mode. The Flip Essential 2 weighs 520 g against 471 g.
One note: the JBL Flip Essential is no longer sold new, but at #71 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality it still outranks most current models, so used is worth considering.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $130 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #67 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 16W RMS |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 6.7” x 2.5” x 2.5” (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Flip Essential 2:
- JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- JBL Flip 7 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Flip Essential 2
- JBL Flip Essential 2 vs JBL Grip
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Flip Essential (rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. In a side by side loudness test it got louder than the JBL Grip, and listeners comparing it with the Marshall Emberton found it more open sounding and clearer. IPX7 waterproof, 520 g, USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.1 with two phones connected at once.
Cons: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight. No app, no EQ, no PartyBoost or stereo pairing, a claimed 10 hours of battery, and IPX7 covers water but not dust.
Full JBL Flip Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioTribe: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2 FULL TEARDOWN in Just 15 Minutes!
- Speaker Fan: JBL Flip 6 VS JBL Flip Essential 2 VS JBL Grip Loudness Test - Which Is Louder?
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. Flip 6 | Bass Sound Test!
- Cristian Catalin’s Sound&Video: JBL Flip Essential 2 VS Marshall Emberton - sound comparison
- Angelicaaudio: Mini JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip Essential 2, rated 3.3/5.
Pros: A genuinely portable 471g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, a 3.5mm aux input and 16W output from two full-range drivers. It is a simple, no-app option for wired sources, travel and casual listening where its cylindrical shape and modest size are a genuine advantage.
Cons: Bass is lighter than the Flip 5 and the 80Hz claimed low-frequency limit means it cannot deliver real low-end weight. Battery life is only a claimed 10 hours, there is no speakerphone, EQ or party mode, and its older Bluetooth 4.1 platform and discontinued status make it a basic used-market choice.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7” x 2.5” x 2.5” (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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