Short answer: neither, if sound quality is your priority, but the Gen 2 if you’re choosing between the two. These rank #72 and #71 out of 75 portable speakers, and both list a discontinued status, with the original at $329 and the Gen 2 at $400.
Both speakers’ own cons say it plainly: each generation sounds basically identical to the others, and the changes were about features, not sound quality. Both share the same 6x9 inch woofer plus 1 inch tweeter driver layout, the same 50W rated output, the same roughly 65Hz bass extension, and the same 25 hour claimed battery life.
What actually changed is charging. The original charges only from an AC power brick and has no power bank function. The Gen 2 switched to USB-C charging and added USB-C power bank output, letting it top off other devices, and it also bumped Bluetooth from version 4.0 to 5.0. That’s a real convenience upgrade even though the drivers and amplifier are unchanged.
Buy the Gen 2 for the USB-C charging and power bank output, which is the only meaningful difference between the two.
Buy the original Turtlebox only if you find one significantly cheaper secondhand and don’t mind the AC brick and lack of power bank function.
Skip both if sound quality is the priority. There are better options higher up the 75 boombox speakers.
Specifications Side By Side
| Turtlebox | Turtlebox Gen 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329 Discontinued | $400 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #72 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #71 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs / 4.54 kg | 10 lbs / 4.54 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Output Power | 50W | 50W |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7" x 8.7" (305 x 178 x 222 mm) | 12" x 7" x 8.7" (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9" (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1" (25mm) tweeter | 1x 6x9" (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1" (25mm) tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs JBL Authentics 300
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs JBL Partybox On the Go
- Zealot ZE51 vs Turtlebox Gen 3
- Turtlebox vs Sony ULT Field 7
- Turtlebox vs Demerbox DB2
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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
Turtlebox: $329 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Waterproof and crushproof, loud with punchy bass. 25 hour battery life (6 hours at full volume). Pairs with a second unit for stereo.
Cons: Sounds basically identical to the later Gen 2 and Gen 3: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality. They pretty much lie about all their specs and sound horrible in all youtube sound samples. Only 50w (from their indigogo page), will never hit 120db at a reasonable measuring distance. Putting your db meter right against the speaker doesn’t count, 1 meter distance is the standard. Barely any bass. Rattles at high volume. Uses an external AC power brick to charge, before USB-C was added on the Gen 2. Looking at it, it appears to be a generic car 2-way 6x9 speaker in a plastic box. Discontinued.
Full Turtlebox review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7" x 8.7" (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9" (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1" (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs / 4.54 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Turtlebox Gen 2: $400 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Waterproof and crushproof, loud with punchy bass. 25 hour battery life (6 hours at full volume; 3 hour charge time). USB-C charging and USB-C output charges other devices, an upgrade over the original’s AC power brick. Pairs with a second unit for stereo.
Cons: Sounds basically identical to the original and the Gen 3: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality. They pretty much lie about all their specs and sound horrible in all youtube sound samples. Only 50w (from their indigogo page), will never hit 120db at a reasonable measuring distance. Putting your db meter right against the speaker doesn’t count, 1 meter distance is the standard. Barely any bass. Rattles at high volume. Looking at it, it appears to be a generic car 2-way 6x9 speaker in a plastic box. Discontinued.
Full Turtlebox Gen 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12" x 7" x 8.7" (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9" (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1" (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs / 4.54 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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