JBL Flip 5 review

Our Verdict

Thanks to higher up-boilerplate audio in a small-scale package, the JBL Flip 5 remains 1 of the all-time portable Bluetooth speakers.

For

• Balances audio quality and size well
• Rich bass
• Rugged

Confronting

• Express app
• No auxiliary input
• No integrated voice banana

Tom's Guide Verdict

Thanks to above-boilerplate audio in a small package, the JBL Flip 5 remains one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers.

Pros

• +

  Balances sound quality and size well

• +

  Rich bass

• +

  Rugged

Cons

• -

  Limited app

• -

  No auxiliary input

• -

  No integrated vox banana

The JBL Flip 5 is just an incremental upgrade on the Flip 4, but while the song remains the same this is still ane of the best waterproof speakers you can buy today.

What, and then, does the Flip 5 bring to the table? A higher price, for 1 matter, though this is balanced out by an upgraded charging port and noticeably enhanced sound quality. While these might not brand a compelling upgrade for existing Flip speaker owners, if you're new to the scene and want something modest, simple and sweet-sounding, you could do a lot worse. Go on reading our JBL Flip review to find out why.

• Check out the best bluetooth speakers
• Our picks of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers
• Want a smaller speaker? Read our JBL Go 3 review

JBL Flip 5 review: Price and availability

The JBL'southward MSRP is currently $119, and costs as much if you purchase direct from JBL. At that place'due south an impressively wide array of colors to choose from, and if you stretch to $149, you lot can even pattern your ain with custom patterns and text.

Alternatively, Amazon has the plain black model for $94. That'southward a big saving if you're not so fussed nigh aesthetics.

JBL Flip 5 review: Blueprint

You lot'd have a hard time picking out a Flip v amid a lineup of Flip 4s — they are very similar looking. The 7.one x ii.9 x 2.7-inch Flip 5 is marginally bigger than the vi.9 x 2.75 x ii.7-inch Flip four and slightly smaller than the 7.ii x 2.8-inch Ultimate Ears Blast 3. Information technology's also lighter than the Boom 3, with the Flip five weighing in at 1.two pounds.

If you lot want your speaker color to reflect your personality, The Flip five has y'all covered. Information technology comes in 12 color options, and you can blueprint your own (for an extra $xxx).

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

The Flip 5 has minimal controls on the device: buttons for play/suspension, volume and PartyBoost to link to some other JBL speaker, forth with a power push button, Bluetooth pairing and USB-C port for charging. An LED strip shows the bombardment level.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The Flip 5 loses the auxiliary input that had been in previous Flip models, so you can just connect wirelessly.

JBL Flip five review: Operation

The Flip 5 has overall very good audio, with impressive bass for a speaker its size. Compared to the Flip 4, the Flip 5 has more than bass and spreads the sound slightly wider. The Boom 3 delivers a bigger audio overall, however.

(Epitome credit: Tom'south Guide)

Fiona Apple'south vocals were articulate and total above the clanging instruments and rhythms on "Shameika," and Taylor Swift's voice was warm and easy to hear on "the last great american dynasty." The snare and cymbals on Sufjan Stevens' "Video Game" snapped crisply. The bass on Jason Isbell's "What've I Done to Help" was deep, while the strummed acoustic guitars sounded sharp just not besides bright.

The Flip five gets plenty loud, measuring about 96 decibels at max volume — louder than the Flip 4. But it got pretty distorted at that level; the sound was better around 85 decibels.

JBL Flip v review: Ruggedness

The Flip 5 has an IP7 waterproof rating, meaning y'all tin submerge it upward to 3 anxiety in water.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

I dunked it in a sinkful of water without any sick effects. The Nail 3 tin also be submerged.

JBL Flip 5 review: Battery life

JBL says you tin play the Flip v for 12 hours on a total charge (the same equally the Flip 4), but that seems to underestimate its actual ability. After using it for more than 5 hours at by and large low book, it still had ¾ of the full charge. The Blast 3 is rated at xv hours.

JBL Flip 5 review: Wireless and setup

The Flip 5 paired easily with my phone and kept a strong bespeak at about 75 feet indoors. Information technology uses Bluetooth iv.2 instead of the latest standard, 5.0, merely that didn't affect performance.

(Prototype credit: Tom'south Guide)

The JBL Portable app (formerly JBL Connect) lets y'all update the firmware and manage PartyBoost, in which you can link another JBL speaker and either mirror the sound or use each speaker in a left/correct stereo pair. Yous can besides alter the play/intermission button to activate Siri instead; there is no vocalization assistant integrated into the speaker itself.

The app does little else. There's no EQ or sound modes, or other features that the Ultimate Ears app offers.

JBL Flip 5 review: Verdict

Since its offset version, the Flip has been one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers. The Flip 5 does just enough to continue information technology amongst the leaders. It combines an easy-to-carry pattern with amend-than-boilerplate bass. This version costs a bit more than the Flip 4, but it is all the same unremarkably cheaper than the Boom 3.

If y'all have a Flip iv, yous probably don't need to upgrade; the biggest departure is the number of colors you tin can choose from and USB-C charging. If you're debating betwixt the Flip v and the Smash 3, the pick comes downward to portability versus sound: the Flip 5 is a lilliputian more portable, while the Boom three sounds a little ameliorate overall. You lot'll exist happy either way.

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He'south written well-nigh music and technology for more than 20 years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men's Journal, PC Globe and Macworld. When he's not reviewing speakers, he'south probably listening to 1 anyway.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/jbl-flip-5

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