Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #80 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90. The JBL Grip ranks #98, rated 3.1/5, at $69.95, $15.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
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, and saving $15.95 with the JBL Grip does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #80 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #98 of 179 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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