JBL Flip 5 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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JBL Flip 5 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $130 List $99.95 at Amazon | $80 List $59.99 at Amazon | $100 List $74.99 at Amazon | $51 List $50.99 at Amazon | $37 List $36.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Good sound quality, waterproof, long battery life | Super-portable, waterproof, great battery life | Loud, compact, durable | Portable, great battery life, inexpensive | Waterproof, inexpensive |
Cons | Not the strongest sounding bass | Sound quality diminishes significantly at higher volumes | Distortion at higher volume, not the longest battery life | Sub-par sound quality | Weak bass, not very loud |
Bottom Line | An affordable balance for those that want good sound quality and portability but don't want to pay a premium price for the absolute best | This mega-portable, waterproof, and durable speaker is perfectly at home on hikes, bike rides, out on the lake, or in the shower | This durable little speaker packs plenty of volume into a waterproof package | A much less expensive, but still enjoyable, portable speaker option for those sticking to a tight budget | An inexpensive speaker that is totally waterproof and sounds better than built-in phone speakers |
Rating Categories | JBL Flip 5 | JBL Clip 4 | Ultimate Ears Wonde... | Anker Soundcore 3 | Tribit XSound Go |
Sound Quality (40%) | |||||
Portability (25%) | |||||
Volume (20%) | |||||
Battery Life (15%) | |||||
Specs | JBL Flip 5 | JBL Clip 4 | Ultimate Ears Wonde... | Anker Soundcore 3 | Tribit XSound Go |
Dimensions (in x in x in) | 3.64" x 3.6" x 8.5" | 1.8" x 3.4" x 5.3" | 3.68" x 3.68" x 4.02" | 6.9" x 2.4" x 2.2" | 6.7" x 2.3" x 2.2" |
Inputs and Charging Ports | Micro USB port | USB-C port | Micro USB port | USB-C port | Charging port, Micro-USB, 3.5mm auxillary input |
IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 | IP67 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
Reported Weight (ounces) | 19.04 oz | 8.48 oz | 15.04 oz | 13.12 oz | 13.4 oz |
Measured Weight | 19 oz | 8.13 oz | 14.9 oz | 17.8 oz | 13.4 oz |
Wireless Range (feet) | Not Listed | Not Listed | 100 | 66 | 66 |
Reported Battery Life (hours) | 12 | 10 | 13 | 24 | 24 |
Measured Battery Life (hours) | 27 | 27 | 13 | 16.75 | 18.5 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Since we tested the Flip 5 (left), JBL released the updated Flip 6 speaker (right). This latest version has a new look for the logo and has updated the waterproof rating to IP67, which means it's dust-resistant and can be submerged under a meter of water for half an hour without sustaining damages. We're linking to the updated Flip 6 in this review, but we have yet to test the new model. The remainder of the text in our review relates to the Flip 5.
The JBL Flip 5 is one of the better-sounding waterproof speakers on the market, making it great for beachgoers and lake vacations.
Performance Comparison
Sound Quality
Overall, the JBL Flip 5 sounds quite good. Songs sound reasonably well-balanced and relatively full. Bass-heavy numbers easily induced head bobbing in our office, and acoustic ballads sounding quite crisp without any of the tininess one would fear from a smaller speaker.
The Flip 5's sound really only has shortcomings when you directly compare it to more expensive and/or larger speakers. In that case, you'll notice that some of the finer nuances you can hear in the top-end speakers get somewhat muddled away with the Flip 5, and podcasts lack a bit of that, "It sounds like this person is in the same room with me," quality. Additionally, both higher-end speakers and larger speakers in the same price range are able to produce a bit more bass punch than the JBL 5.
While the Flip 5 has some noticeable shortcomings when compared to the best speakers, we doubt you'll notice them unless you compare them side-by-side, or you have a particularly discerning ear.
Portability
The Flip 5 definitely sacrifices a bit of portability in order to be louder and sound better, but it does this less so than many other comparable speakers.
Offering IPX7 total waterproofness, the Flip 5 can easily handle heavy downpours, big splashes, and even a complete dunking if you tip over the canoe. At 19 ounces, it isn't particularly light, but certainly isn't heavy either. We had no qualms throwing it in our bag for a day at the beach or a stroll down to the lake, and it was a mainstay whenever we went car camping. However, it is noticeably bigger than some of the super slim models, so it tended not to make the cut when we were going on longer walks/hikes or when we were overstuffing our carry-ons.
Volume
This speaker packs an impressive amount of volume into a relatively average-sized body. It kept a group of a dozen people in our large testing apartment entertained easily. Really the only common use we can think of where it wouldn't be loud enough would be a large backyard barbeque with 30+ people. Even then, it would be fine for a mellow barbeque, but might be a bit quiet if you want to get all those people dancing.
We also found the sound quality to deteriorate a bit at absolute full volume, but even a couple notches below max was loud while still sounding good.
Battery Life
The Flip 5's battery is slated to last 12 hours, but it blew that figure out of the water in our testing, pumping out music for 27 hours straight before finally yielding to the lack of electrons. We don't see anyone having any qualms about this speaker's battery life.
Value
Considering the JBL Flip 5's waterproofness and above-average sound quality, we think it's a pretty good deal. For those that want decent sound quality in a package that can take a beating, it's a worthwhile purchase.
Bottom Line
Possibly one of the best summertime beach speakers around, the JBL Flip 5 is great for those that are ok with good but less-than-premium sound, as long as it means the speaker can take a beating without breaking the bank.
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