[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Easy and intuitive to use straight out of the box. This speaker has quickly become one I take with me to hangout with friends in the backyard. Perfect for playing some music while playing disc golf or sitting around a fire. The size, volume, and battery life make this speaker a must have when hanging out at home or with friends.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] In the past, I thought the previous Charge models were a bit too large and clunky for my taste... But I was really impressed with this one. It's compact enough to compete with the Flip, is also waterproof, but is significantly more powerful. It's a little heavy, but they've clearly packed a lot of tech into the smaller frame. I tried a variety of genres, and the biggest stand-out point was the bass on genres that are mid-heavy. It has great projection, too. The only time when I found the bass to be a little lackluster was when listening to edm or music that is very bass-specific - it still hit the notes but didn't sound as prominent compared to other genres that have distinctly different layers happening at the same time. The battery power is impressive as well, particularly with its longevity. I use this speaker for outdoor sports - so the projection, size, durability, and battery power are HUGE pluses to make this my new go-to.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Portability: The JBL Charge Essential 2 is effortlessly portable, thanks to its compact design and integrated strap. Whether you're on the move, at the beach, or just around the house, it's a convenient companion that goes wherever you do. Waterproof Design: Having an IPX7 waterproof rating, the JBL Charge Essential 2 can endure being submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for a duration of 30 minutes. This feature ensures it is appropriate for usage at the pool, beach, or even in the shower, providing peace of mind. Long Battery Life: The speaker showcases a remarkable battery life, lasting up to 20 hours (duration may vary based on volume levels), providing optimal sound quality; it could reach up to 16 hours. This assurance of uninterrupted music enjoyment throughout the day makes it well-suited for outdoor adventures or prolonged events. JBL Pro Sound: Even with its small dimensions, the speaker produces robust and harmonious sound, characterized by rich bass and crisp highs. Overall: I believe the Charge Essential 2 would offer a better value proposition for a portable speaker compared to the Charge 5, considering its price and specifications.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Another excellent portable speaker from JBL. I have several JBL portable Wi-Fi speakers. They come in different sizes. I would say this is one of the larger ones. I took a picture next to a set of headphones and a quarter for size comparison. Like all JBL speakers the sound is excellent. The base is deep and the highs are very clear. It maintains good clarity even at high volumes and it usually fills a large room. Would have no problem bringing this out for a party in my house. The beauty of the speaker is that it's not too big to take along with you on vacation or to the beach. Hooks up to your phone via Bluetooth almost instantly it doesn't lose the connection. You can't go wrong with this speaker. Highly recommend.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Perfect speaker to take on the go or to use for the house. Over the weekend i mostly used the speaker in my home for a small get together with friends and family. I was most impressed with the battery life and sound quality. Its very light so traveling with it especially to the beach or going for a hike will be easy. Another great feature im a huge fan of is the ability to charge your phone! With that being said i highly recommend looking into getting one for yourself.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I just checked out the new JBL Charge Essential 2 speaker and it’s now my go to for music. Right out of the box this speaker is easy setup and use. The sound is great and clear, even the speech is clear and easy to hear on a podcast. Let’s start with the packaging. As usual the packaging is what I have become to expect from Harmon/JBL. Box was very clean and had good graphics and very easy to open. All was packaged well and protected. Box had speaker charging cable usb-usb c and a quick setup guide. Speaker was so easy to setup just go to Bluetooth settings on phone and connect and in less then 30 seconds I was listing to my favorite music. A bonus to this speaker is that you can also charge your phone when on the go. I see myself using this for the beach, picnics or just outside doing some yard work. Speaker is built for on the go seems rugged and it’s waterproof. Great for beach, pool, boat, camping, gym, garage or anywhere you can think to take it. Not too big and not too heavy easily one hand carry. Sound is great, I'm definitely going to use this everywhere I go. Definitely recommend I can’t think of any cons all pros.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This JBL Charge Essential 2 bluetooth speaker is a little beast that delivers some powerful sound quality & booming bass! Zero complaints on what it does & what I need it to do - fill up a room with music & keep the energy going. With a built-in 7500mah rechargeable battery that powers the unit up to 20 hours of music &/or mixed use of music & charging capability for other devices via the USB-A jack in the rear, this is handy to take outdoors & not worry about the battery running out nor your other devices. Really love this size & need to find some kind of protective carrying case for it. I currently own a few different JBL bluetooth devices such as bluetooth earbuds, battery charger, & a few smaller-sized bluetooth speakers - all great quality & reassures me they'll deliver when I need them most!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Choosing a Bluetooth speaker is never easy. There are hundreds to choose from at every price point and with every type of feature. The JBL Charge Essential 2 not only sounds great, but has an extra added feature that everybody will need sooner or later. Like other JBL speaker I’ve owned, the Charge Essential 2’s sound is clear and crisp with a thumping bass. Every type of music sounds great coming out of this tall boy styled speaker. And if you really want to crank it up around the pool or at the beach, don’t worry, it gets plenty loud and it is waterproof. The sound is great and all, but what sells this speaker is the added USB charge port for your phone. It’s not a trickle type charger, it is lightning fast. So you can jam out to tunes from your phone and never worry about not having enough power to go all day. My only dislike about this speaker is that it needs some kind of handle or strap to carry it around. It’s fat in the middle, and if you don’t have big hands, you will have to cradle it like a football to carry it around. If you want a Bluetooth speaker with a powerful sound, and the added ability to charge your phone at the same time, go get you a JBL Charge Essential 2. You will not regret it.

Love it. It was a birthday gift and having the picture printed on it makes it so much more personal

Love this speaker! Loud, great sound & bass.