Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #80 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90; the LG Xboom Grab ranks #106, rated 3.0/5, and costs $104.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter option. 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 LG Xboom Grab at 1.5 lbs (680 g). 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 LG Xboom Grab is the longer-running choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with elastic mounting straps, a long 20 hour battery, multipoint pairing and app room calibration. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. The tradeoff: Bass extension not as deep as the top speakers.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Grab and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | LG Xboom Grab | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $104.99 |
| Ranked | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #106 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 1x 80x45mm racetrack woofer, 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 30W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | No | No |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 8.3” x 2.8” x 2.8” (211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 75Hz |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
| Strap | - | Yes (mounting straps) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
- LG Xboom Grab: reviews by GYMCADDY, FishBee Product and Mike O’Brien.
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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Flip Essential 2: