Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #71 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90; the LG Xboom Go PL5 ranks #125, rated 2.4/5, and costs $179, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the JBL Flip Essential 2: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. Watch for: 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.
What the LG Xboom Go PL5 does well: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. The tradeoff: Barely any bass.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Go PL5 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
If battery life is a priority, the LG Xboom Go PL5 is rated for 15 hours versus 10 hours for the JBL Flip Essential 2.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | LG Xboom Go PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #125 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 20W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| App | No | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.4 lbs (640 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 71Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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 (ranked lower, 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 | Yes |
| 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
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LG Xboom Go PL5: $179.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. LED lights sync to music via the LG XBOOM app; Wireless Party Link connects up to 100 speakers. USB-C charging. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Barely any bass. 14kHz peak, bright on top. Soundboost mode makes the top end even harsher.
Full LG Xboom Go PL5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (640 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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