JBL Flip 5 Review

Name: JBL Flip 5
Brand: JBL

A compact, waterproof packable speaker that sounds flat and manufactured

Credit: Matt Lighthart

Price: $90 List

Manufacturer: JBL

By Elizabeth White ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 29, 2026

Contributions From: Rachael Lamore

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#13 of 15

Sound Quality - 35% 5.1
Portability - 30% 7.5
Volume - 15% 4.9
Durability - 10% 5.0
Battery - 5% 4.8
Ease of Use - 5% 3.0

List Price: $90

Check price at Amazon

Our Verdict

The JBL Flip 5 is an older JBL model, and its flat sound quality shows its age. While a bit cheaper than most speakers we tested, we think it's somewhat overpriced given its disappointing sound quality. We also had some connectivity issues, like connecting to the app and slower pairing. All told, if you're in the market for a Bluetooth speaker under $100, there are better options. We also think it's worth buying newer versions of the Flip, which sound far better and are often on sale at a similar price.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product JBL Flip 5	Soundcore Boom 2	JBL Clip 5	Soundcore Select 4 Go	JBL Go 4
Awards		Best for Parties on a Budget	Best Shower Speaker	Best Budget Speaker
Price	$90 List Check Price at Amazon	$140 List Check Amazon (on sale!)	$80 List Check Amazon (on sale!)	$35 List Check Amazon (on sale!)	$50 List Check Amazon (on sale!)
Overall Score	57	66	65	60	60
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	A compact, waterproof packable speaker that sounds flat and manufactured	A great value speaker for people who are willing to sacrifice some portability for great bass and big sound	A mini speaker with a neat clip attachment that punches above it's size class, however you may need a specialized stand for desk listening	A great value for consumers who want a small rugged speaker that produces adequate sound	One of the smallest, lightest portable speakers on the market that plays mediocre music
Pros	Good portability, sounds the same from most angles	Good sound for size and price, floats in water	Integrated clip, easy to attach to bags & packs, sound packs a punch	Very packable & portable, unbeatable price, long battery life	Weighs next to nothing, fits anywhere
Cons	Prone to hissing, not dust proof	Spotty connectivity, bulky	Harder to orient for optimal sound when unclipped, a bit pricey for the size	Muddled sound, doesn't get very loud	Bass is lacking, not loud enough
Rating Categories	JBL Flip 5	Soundcore Boom 2	JBL Clip 5	Soundcore Select 4 Go	JBL Go 4
Sound Quality (35%)	5.1	7.5	4.4	3.9	3.6
Portability (30%)	7.5	5.0	9.5	9.0	9.3
Volume (15%)	4.9	7.8	4.2	3.5	3.2
Durability (10%)	5.0	6.5	9.0	8.5	9.0
Battery (5%)	4.8	6.7	4.5	5.9	4.7
Ease of Use (5%)	3.0	6.5	6.5	5.0	6.8
Specifications	JBL Flip 5	Soundcore Boom 2	JBL Clip 5	Soundcore Select 4 Go	JBL Go 4
Measured Battery Life	12.6 hrs	33.8 hrs	8.8 hrs	25.4 hrs	10.9 hrs
Measured Weight	1.1 lbs	3.7 lbs	0.6 lbs	0.6 lbs	0.4 lbs
Dimensions	7.3" L x 3.0" W x 3.0" H	12.0" L x 4.0" W x 7.0" H	3.5" L x 2.0" W x 5.5" H	4.8" L x 1.7" W x 3.1" H	3.8" L x 1.5" W x 3.0" H
Water Resistance	IPX7: Waterproof to 1 meter	IPX7: Waterproof to 1 meter	IP67: Waterproof to 1 meter & dustproof	IP67: Waterproof to 1 meter & dustproof	IP67: Waterproof to 1 meter & dustproof
Measured Volume	87 dB	100 dB	87 dB	84 dB	84 dB
Claimed Battery Life	12.0 hrs	24.0 hrs	12.0 hrs	20.0 hrs	7.0 hrs
Multipoint Pairing	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speaker Syncing	100 JBl Party	2 Speakers	100 JBL speakers	2 Speakers	100 JBL speakers
Sound Customization	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voice Assistant	No built-in microphone	Siri \| Google Assistant (via connected phone)	No built-in microphone	No built-in microphone	No built-in microphone
Measured Bluetooth Range	up to 103 ft	up to 54 ft	up to 108 ft	up to 136 ft	up to 97 ft
Wired Audio Input	None	None	None	None	None
Floatable	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Included Accessories	Type C USB cable	USB-C to USB-C cable	Type C USB cable	Type C USB cable	Type C USB cable

Analysis and Test Results

The JBL Flip 5 is a small, lightweight portable speaker with middling sound quality. Credit: Matt Lighthart

Likes

The Flip 5 is one of the smaller models we tested and fits easily in a purse or satchel. It also comes with a sturdy thread lanyard for carrying and is pretty light in-hand at 1.1 lbs, though we feel the size-to-sound quality is pretty mediocre, as other models half the size and weight sound similar.

This speaker is light enough for any kind of travel. Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Flip 5 has an IPX7 durability rating, so it can withstand splashes and submersion in water, but it could sustain damage if it gets dirty. It handles drops like a champ in our tests and didn't sustain any damage.

The Flip 5 can survive aggressive drops. Credit: Matt Lighthart

Its battery life lasts up to 12 hours and 40 minutes of listening at 75% volume, which is on par for a speaker of this size and likely to get you through several days of occasional listening.

Like most of the speakers we tested, the Flip 5 is quick and easy to pair. We also never experienced any connectivity issues.

Dislikes

The Flip 5 sounds about the same as other models at half the price, meaning it's prone to hissing, especially when listening to electronic pop like “Von Dutch” by Charli XCX, where the synth drums and autotune vocals sound ultra-processed. Despite its wraparound speaker design, the soundstage is also disappointingly murky and muffled compared to newer models.

It's also a bit quieter than the other JBLs at this size and sounds a bit messier at higher volumes, though not as overly blown out or distorted as we expected.

It took some patience to connect the Flip 5 to the app, which is a common theme amongst older JBL products. There were also several times when our Bluetooth said we were connected to the Flip 5, but the music was coming out of our phone's speaker, which was a headache.

jbl flip 5 - the music this speaker plays isn't very immersive. — The music this speaker plays isn't very immersive. Credit: Matt Lighthart

While it comes with an app that lets us customize our music, the Flip 5 app lacks the features of newer models. We were unable to connect it to any of the newer JBL speakers, which use “Auracast” to connect to an unlimited number of compatible JBL models. Instead, we can only connect to older models that use “PartyBoost”, which allows us to connect two speakers for stereo sound.

The control buttons are clearly labeled, but also irksome, being some of the hardest to press. We had to use a bit of hand strength, which is frustrating.

jbl flip 5 - some of the labeled controls are confusing. — Some of the labeled controls are confusing. Credit: Matt Lighthart

Should You Buy the JBL Flip 5?

We wouldn't recommend this model. If you're trying to stay within a budget, there are other options that sound better with slightly better durability and portability in this price range.

What Other Speakers Should You Consider?

We highly recommend the JBL Flip 7 over the Flip 5, which looks exactly the same but sounds infinitely better with more punch and power. The Flip 7 gets much louder by almost 10 decibels, and also comes with Auracast, so we can connect it with an unlimited number of compatible JBL speakers. We appreciate the shorter, more comfortable lanyard and the easy-to-press buttons. Best of all, it can usually be found on sale for around the same price as the Flip 5.

jbl flip 5 - there are better options than the flip 5 for not much extra. — There are better options than the Flip 5 for not much extra. Credit: Matt Lighthart

If you're looking for a basstastic speaker in this price range, we recommend the Soundcore Boom 2, which gets exceptionally loud (almost 100 decibels) and is quite powerful and punchy, making it great for both parties and small gatherings. It even comes with a bass boosting feature for extra punchy, energetic sound.

—Elizabeth White and Rachael Lamore