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 Grip ranks #80, rated 3.1/5, and costs $99.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Similar single-driver designs. Both use a 43 to 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and no tweeter. The Flip Essential 2 has 20W against the Grip’s 16W.
In a side by side loudness test the Flip Essential 2 got louder, while the Grip had a bit more bass. The Grip lacks deeper bass and clarity, with rolled off highs.
The Grip has the modern features: IP68, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast linking, a claimed 14 hours and an ambient light. The Flip Essential 2 has no app, EQ or linking, and claims 10 hours.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Grip and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #67 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 16W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (7 band) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | Yes (strap) |
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 Flip Essential
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 Grip: $99.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons