Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 3 for better sound quality, the JBL Flip Essential 2 for the lower price. The Sony ULT Field 3 ranks #71 of 182 medium speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $208. The JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #80, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90, $122.10 cheaper.
The Sony ULT Field 3 is the longer-running choice. A rugged waterproof stereo speaker with long battery life, a detailed app EQ, a shoulder strap and a phone charging port. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Party Connect up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. The catch: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the lighter choice. 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 much less than the Sony ULT Field 3 at 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg). 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.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 3 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Flip Essential 2 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
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
| Sony ULT Field 3 | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $208.00 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #71 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 27W | 20W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Sony ULT Field 3: reviews by GYMCADDY and Mark Ellis.
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
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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