Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2 for better sound quality, the Soundcore 2 for the lower price. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #80 of 182 medium speakers, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90. The Soundcore 2 ranks #105, rated 3.0/5, at $29.99, $55.91 cheaper.
Why pick the JBL Flip Essential 2: A compact, affordable waterproof speaker that gets fairly loud for its size and connects to two phones at once. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. 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 Soundcore 2 is the longer-running, lighter pick. A cheap, light waterproof stereo speaker with a long rated battery, an aux input and pairing with a second unit. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. At 0.7 lbs (318 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Flip Essential 2 at 1.1 lbs (520 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. The tradeoff: Bass is specified only down to 70Hz, so the low end is limited.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | Soundcore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $29.99 |
| Ranked | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 12W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 0.7 lbs (318 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
- Soundcore 2: reviews by Aphid Tech and SoulOfTech.
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.
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