Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Flow. It ranks #55 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $79.99; the JBL Flip Essential 2 ranks #71, rated 3.3/5, and costs $85.90, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the Tribit Stormbox Flow: Up to 30 hours of battery life: roughly double most rivals (~20-24 hrs with XBass on). The catch: Not stereo.
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. The catch: 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.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Flow. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential 2 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
If battery life is a priority, the Tribit Stormbox Flow is rated for 30 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
| Tribit Stormbox Flow | JBL Flip Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $85.90 |
| Ranked | #55 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms aac, 200ms sbc | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (657 g) | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.6” x 2.1” (200 x 91 x 53 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 25W | 20W RMS |
| Drivers | 60W: 2x 30mm drivers + passive radiators | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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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
Tribit Stormbox Flow: $79.99 Tribit eBay
Pros: Up to 30 hours of battery life: roughly double most rivals (~20-24 hrs with XBass on). IP67 rated with a loose handle for carrying/hanging. Pairs with a second Flow for stereo; USB-C port charges your phone too. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Midrange and bass are weirdly recessed about 4db below 700Hz. You need xbass mode for it to not sound like a clock radio with missing bass. You also can’t turn up the bass enough in the custom EQ modes to get it neutral, so it will sound bass light. Firmware 1.2.3 fixes the distortion issues with xbass mode on, but bass still sounds wobbly and uncontrolled.
Full Tribit Stormbox Flow review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 25W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms aac, 200ms sbc |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.6” x 2.1” (200 x 91 x 53 mm) |
| Drivers | 60W: 2x 30mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (657 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but……….. More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow firmware update 1.2.3 game changing moment in portable bluetooth history!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow firmware update 1.2.5 - stuff gets fixed ✔
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Flow vs XSound Mega - Sound Comparison, Stock EQ, Both Mono Sound 😶🌫️ A Family Feud More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Soundcore Motion 300 (LDAC) 😵 Budget Bose Soundlink Flex "Inspired" Speakers
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Flow - after firmware update More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Flow - sound demo
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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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