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JBL Flip 5 Review

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
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JBL Flip 5 Review (Our tests show that this speaker's battery life goes well beyond the manufacturer's stated 12 hours, so you can rock...)
Our tests show that this speaker's battery life goes well beyond the manufacturer's stated 12 hours, so you can rock out for a long time between charges.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   JBL
By Max Mutter and Michelle Powell  ⋅  Apr 20, 2023
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 10
  • Sound Quality - 40% 7.0
  • Portability - 25% 7.0
  • Volume - 20% 9.0
  • Battery Life - 15% 9.0

Our Verdict

Finding a reasonable balance between sound quality/volume and portability/ruggedness, the JBL Flip 5 is the quintessential jack of all trades, master of none. It's melodious enough that you're almost certainly going to enjoy listening to any type of music with it, but its listening experience is decidedly less refined than than those offered by the field-leading Bose models. It is also waterproof and fairly light, making it a perfect companion for campsites and beach days. However, it is just heavy enough that it probably won't make it into your pack for a longer hike or bike ride. So, if you're like the majority of people that want a speaker that can both sound decent and handle the elements, the Flip 5 definitely gets our recommendation. However, if you put a large premium on sound quality or portability, there are more specialized models available that will likely fit your needs a bit better. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our bluetooth speaker review.
REASONS TO BUY
Good sound quality
Waterproof
Long battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the strongest sounding bass
Editor's Note: This review was updated on April 20, 2023 to share info on the latest model of this speaker.

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Price $130 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line A great balance of sound quality, portability, and priceConveniently small and light, this speaker sounds excellent for its size, and its clip feature makes it easy to take anywhereWaterproof, impact-resistant, and compact, this speaker is capable of accompanying you on all your adventuresWhile this speaker can't match the sound quality of its more expensive competitors, it's still a good option at an attractive priceA good, inexpensive option for those that want something waterproof
Rating Categories JBL Flip 5 JBL Clip 4 Ultimate Ears Wonde... Anker Soundcore 3 Tribit XSound Go
Sound Quality (40%)
7.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Portability (25%)
7.0
10.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Volume (20%)
9.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
3.0
Battery Life (15%)
9.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
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

New Version Released
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



jbl flip 5 - this rough and tumble speaker packs a lot of sound into a portable...
This rough and tumble speaker packs a lot of sound into a portable package, at a nice price.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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.

jbl flip 5 - the flip 5 strikes a good balance between size, durability, and...
The Flip 5 strikes a good balance between size, durability, and sound quality.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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.

jbl flip 5 - using partyboost you can link two flip 5's together for stereo...
Using PartyBoost you can link two Flip 5's together for stereo sound, or link multiple together for surround sound.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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.

jbl flip 5 - this waterproof, dustproof speaker is a perfect choice for a day at...
This waterproof, dustproof speaker is a perfect choice for a day at the beach.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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.

Max Mutter and Michelle Powell