Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #46 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $49.99 and is still sold new; the JBL Flip Essential ranks #89 (rated 3.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Flip Essential’s replacement, the JBL Flip Essential 3 SE, is rated 3.6/5 at $115.53.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor is the better-sounding option. An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers. It links with other speakers (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers), which the JBL Flip Essential cannot. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Bass reach is limited for the cabinet size, with a rated lower limit of 60Hz, and the boosted bass gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
The JBL Flip Essential is the lighter pick. A light, simple waterproof speaker with an aux input, good for travel and casual listening. At 1 lbs (471 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor at 1.3 lbs (597 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor lacks. Watch for: Bass is lighter than the JBL Flip 5 and the 80Hz claimed low-frequency limit means it cannot deliver real low-end weight.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It is rated higher for sound quality; the JBL Flip Essential is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
A light, simple waterproof speaker with an aux input, good for travel and casual listening.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $130 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #46 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (597 g) | / 1 lbs (471 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) | 6.7” x 2.5” x 2.5” (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | 16W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
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