This was new. My last jbl stopped charging after 8 months of use so i got this one new as a gift for Christmas. 2 months later i woke up to this constantly turning on and off, no matter what you do to do the power button it’d keep doing it. It had gone rogue, you could say. It was to the point i had i to put it had outside. Don’t get this product, because i have random Chinese speakers that last 20 years and suck compared to this garbage brand that can’t even last me 1 year. Thanks jbl, you suck!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] All members of the family love to steal this and take it to their room, out with friends at the hot tub, or when they are chilling in the basement with friends. It has high quality large sound, a long life battery, it connects quickly and easily.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Flip Essential 2 is compact and portable but good (if not great) things come in small packages! No disappointments with the Flip 2 and its concert like sound from a nearly 7 inch waterproof speaker! The speaker comes in a sturdy yet colorful package with all manuals, speaker with attached carry cord, and required USB-A to USB-C charger cord. Everything here is needed to start a small concert experience wherever you may go. The small but potent speaker is optimal for days at the park or anywhere but really shines as a go-to essential for beach, lake, or pool days as this unit is waterproof as well! Unit connects and receives signal from any device that transmits via Bluetooth such as cell phones or other Bluetooth able audio devices. Once charged the unit delivers 10 hours of enjoyment with just over a 3 hour charge time. The battery charge level is indicated with a series of micro LEDs near the power button. The frame of the speaker is light and compact but also 'slip' resistant with the rubber edges. The Flip 2 offers dynamic 20W sound that fills any room or outdoor gathering! The Pro Sound that JBL offers is nothing short of amazing as usual with all JBL products. The bass is strong and the highs are crisp. The compactness of the speaker does limit the ultra low bass that some JBL products offer (down to 65hz) but is still punchy and pleasant. The speaker is IPX7 Water Proof and designed to withstand beach days, pool parties, and even the occasional rain shower if your outdoor gathering is interrupted with a passing storm. In closing the Flip 2 offers all of the quality sound that we've come to expect and love from JBL. A great addition to any picnic basket or outdoor party kit where music shapes the event and mood! We used the unit on a local fishing trip and other people on the boat could not believe the sound emitted from this compact beast! A true asset to the JBL lineup and well worth every penny!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Great speaker. Small and easy to carry with great sound quality. I've gotten it wet a few times and the waterproofing is a great feature for outdoors. Perfect for boats, hikes, and anything on the go.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Small but packs a punch. Lightweight can carry anywhere. Sound quality is awesome. Connecting is simple as it gets. Connecting ports seem to be sealed tight for water resistance. Another quality build for sure. Sound really packs a punch for a small speaker. The bass from this speaker is just right. Would highly recommend this speaker to anyone. Great for any adventure!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is a pretty good speaker when it comes to the JBL line. It has a decent sound quality, which can always be improved as well as the battery strength/length isn’t too bad either. Not big and bulky either.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Flip series of speakers has been a dependable go to portable speaker. Small size makes it easy to take anywhere, including your luggage, but it's got plenty of output to fill a room with excellent audio. I compared the Essential 2 model to the Flip 4 I already had and honestly, I couldn't tell the difference. The Essential 2 drops a couple of "less than commonly used" features, but keeps all the important functions and full sound capabilities. If the extras don't appeal to you, save a few bucks and go for the Essential 2, you won't be disappointed.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The speaker is built nicely, it’s sturdy and designed well. However, the structure of the speaker is identical to a JBL Flip 4. Considering that there are speakers like Flip 6 and Charge 5 currently on the market, Flip Essential 2 might not be the optimal choice for everyone. It’s essentially an old Flip 4 with a USB Type-C charging port, with no JBL Connect+, and a single driver located on the left side (I’ll get into that later). Although it still produces powerful audio, there are better JBL alternatives available. ____________ There are still many positives about the speaker. For its size, the audio output is solid, it charges fast, and the battery life is above satisfactory as it would last an entire gathering, beach, or hiking session. The claimed 10 hours of battery life is quite accurate from my experience. The size itself is also a plus as it’s very compact and has a cylinder shape, it fits into many bags and holders. It’s simple to use and there are no special features that make the product complicated. Everything is straightforward and easy to operate. The strap is a great addition as well, makes it easy to transport the speaker or attach it to other objects. It is waterproof and can withstand dust and some mid-size shocks as well. While the volume control, play/pause, and Bluetooth buttons do not, the power button lights up and there is a 5-point LED battery indicator in the back. If you’re ever in doubt about the battery percentage of the device, that makes it very easy to see. ____________ Audio Quality: As mentioned, the speaker gets quite loud and the loudness is exactly what you’d expect from a JBL product. Even at the highest volume levels, there is barely any sound distortion, making the product a convincing choice. However, unlike its predecessor, Flip 4, the Essential Flip 2 has the single driver installed on the front left of the speaker. When you lay down the speaker flat horizontally and have it in its intended use position, the sound only comes out from the left side. Moreover, if you face the speaker directly, your left ear picks up the majority of the audio, making it very difficult to focus and enjoy the music. It was better to have the speaker on its side vertically to play audio. As far as bass goes, the speaker produces some good lows but it’s not very punchy. It doesn’t have the iconic powerful JBL bass. The bass radiators on the side work very well and they shake the surface in some cases, but they don’t produce a punchy bass. However, the highs and mids are very crisp and defined. The melodies and vocals come out very clear. Perhaps if the speaker had a little bass boost option, the bass then might’ve been able to keep up with the quality of mid and high frequencies. ____________ Overall, this is a solid speaker with a powerful output and basic features. It’ll be more than enough for a living room, backyard swimming/football session, or gatherings/picnics. As an audiophile who values punchy bass, louder audio, and bigger systems/devices, this wouldn’t be my first choice but for basic uses and its size, it’s a great option. The bass is still there, and the sound is very clear. It’s the type of speaker I’d take with me while traveling or going on a road trip. It’d be useful in certain occasions to get a much-needed volume boost or at least when the phone speakers aren’t enough, this speaker would be the perfect solution.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is the flip essential 2. After fully charging, it linked with my phone easily. I honestly thought it would have been louder than I expected. Just loud enough to not disturb the neighbors. I would definitely recommend this speaker. The only negative thing I can say is that it doesn't have the connect to other JBL speakers. Still a very good speaker for it's size and sound.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Perfect speaker for game night, great bass for such a small speaker. Water, what water?? Great speaker for all outdoor activities no matter the weather. Great battery life, charged it fully once and haven't had to plug it in again.