[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Charge Essential 2 is a budget friendly addition to the JBL Charge family .The speaker sounds good and loud for it's size ,its ipx7 rated for waterproofing, it has a powerbank that you can charge another device. It has basically the same specs as the other JBL Charge 5 the only real thing that is missing is no party boost so you can't connect multiple devices to this also there is no wifi.So if you don't need thease features ,i think this is a great by.Good sound and good battery life

[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.] Love the Charge Essential 2! It sounds great, I got fuller bass by standing it on end. It was easy to connect to phone. Battery lasts a couple days so far. Can’t wait to take out in the backyard this summer. I like I can plug my phone in to keep it charged. This speaker packs a lot of power.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is a great larger speaker measuring about 8 3/4" wide. It has that heavy duty feel to it so I'm sure it will last a long time. As expected the sound quality is excellent and my Daughter is already trying to take it after hearing it! An unexpected feature is that it has a USB out plug do you can charge your phone and other devices! It runs off the standard USB-C cable and one is included. Overall a great sounding speaker built to last.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Charge Essential 2 was super easy to pair with my iPhone and get started. As will all JBL gear, I found the sound quality to be clear, well-balanced and natural out of the box. I expected a little more beef on the low end for the speaker size, but it's still pretty good. As expected, the speaker volume is a notch louder and more present than the smaller JBL speaker models, like the Flip. But I was disappointed to find that turning the volume up past about half way on my iPhone quickly degraded the sound quality. The up-tempo Rock I was playing sounded increasingly unbalanced and shrill in the mids at the louder volume. Below the halfway volume point the sound quality is very good, but that's a lot of unusable volume range. For ambient music or background music while you work, that is acceptable. But if you want to crank the volume to fill the room with party music, this speaker will likely disappoint. As for features, this "essential" version of the Charge really is no frills, with no ability to link with other speakers for stereo playback or PartyBoost, no call answering, and no app integration to customize EQ. By design, it's just a Bluetooth speaker with an output charging port. However, The lack of app integration to customize the EQ is really missed as I consider that feature essential to tailor the right sound from any speaker and to match the music style and audio tastes of the listener. In the case of the Charge Essential 2, it might be even more critical to help achieve an EQ profile that would allow for louder volumes with a more balanced sound. With such limited features, this speaker's remaining value proposition needs to be killer sound quality, especially at the price point. But on this mark it just falls short. I honestly think I'd rather have the Flip 6 for almost half the price and have the EQ feature since the sound quality of the Charge Essential 2 over the Flip 6 at lower volumes is just not that different. If the charging output feature or higher volume are must-have features for you, I'd recommend skipping the Charge Essential 2 and springing for the full-featured Charge 5 to get EQ capability.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This speaker is great. It has several appealing features. It sounds good, looks amazing, charges your device & is also waterproof.. Some of the highlights are as follows..The JBL charge 2 has Bold JBL Sound, 20 hours of playtime, a IPX7 waterproof design, Wireless Bluetooth Streaming and a built-in powerbank. The JBL Charge Essential 2 features a racetrack-shaped driver, a separate tweeter and two pumping JBL passive radiators for deeper bass. The optimized transducer delivers bigger loudness. The JBL Charge Essential 2 provides powerful sound wherever you are. Some of the cons..I was disappointed to learn that this speaker does not have an app you can use with it like other JBL products. And it sounds like there is o lot sound coming out of the left side of the speaker. Not sure why it is this way. At the end of the day I think this is a super speaker that’s waterproof and can also offers a power bank.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] With so many Bluetooth speakers on the market, there sometimes needs to be a value proposition involved. This is where the Charge Essential 2 shines. This speaker is a great size and weight, it hits the sweet spot in between being small enough to pack up yet large enough to have drivers that will fill a pool area or campground. As the name implies, it has a large battery capacity that allows you to charge other devices, which can be very useful when out at the pool. It is also very water resistant, which again makes it great for the pool or beach. The sound quality is good but the bass gets a bit distorted at higher levels and I feel the mids are lacking. However, this is where price comes in. With the very affordable price and all the great features, I think this is a great buy for all that you get. This is going to be my go to Bluetooth pool, beach, and camping speaker!

[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.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Powerful sound - rich bass with good voice distinction. This portable speaker is powerful to blast sound across of Fitness studio yet compact enough to put into your bag and carry around. It has some weight to it so be mindful of that if you’re looking for space in your bag ; easy to pair out of the box ; charging cable seems pretty self-explanatory, I just wish it had a nice carrying case that came with it. I will use this not only for workouts but keep in my bag for at the beach or even playing when I’m cleaning the house. I think it’s worth it while as it seems like it would be resistance to damage via drops as I accidentally dropped mine on the carpet soon as I got it out of the box; no damage noticed. I’m giving it a four out of the five stars only because I wish it had a case that could protect it otherwise would’ve given it a five stars.

[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.