Summary and Rating: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 6
JBL Flip 5
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JBL Flip 6
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JBL Flip 5
Our Rating – 4.4 (out of five)
IPX7 Rating
Battery Life: 9 hrs 3 minutes
Frequency Response – 65 Hz – 20 kHz
Weight: 540 g
Dimensions: 181 X 69 X 74mm
JBL Flip 6
Our Rating – 4.6 (out of five)
IP67 Rating
Battery Life: 9 hrs 40 minutes
Frequency Response – 65 Hz – 20 kHz
Weight: 540 g
Dimensions: 180 X 69 X 74mm
Pros – JBL Flip 5
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Commendable audio experience for the price and durability.
- Portable and lightweight design
Pros – JBL Flip 6
- Improved IP67 rating, can handle exposure to dust, sand, and saltwater without damage
- Commendable audio experience for the price and durability
- Portable and lightweight design
Cons – JBL Flip 5
- Not dustproof
- Frequency response does not include sub-bass (below 65 Hz).
- Limited battery life compared to the competition
Cons – JBL Flip 6
- Frequency response does not include sub-bass (below 65 Hz)
- Limited battery life compared to the competition
Bottom Line:
It’s a draw. Both speakers offer excellent value and durability. The Flip 6, now completely dustproof, is worth the extra cash. The Flip 5 is often on sale, so also worth considering.
Introducing the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6
JBL makes the most popular waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market today. Now available in nearly every shape, size, and color, JBL has expanded its line of rugged portable speakers to meet every need.
The Flip 5 and the latest model, the Flip 6 have become a go-to choice for outdoor, budget-friendly speakers. The Flip began as a water-resistant speaker. In its 5th generation, the Flip 5 has an IPX7 rating, meaning it can be submerged under 1 meter of water without damage. Notably, the IP rating has been improved with the Flip 6 to IP67, making it entirely dustproof as well.
The speakers both offer a commendable audio experience, especially considering their low price and durability. With their loud output, they are suitable for worksites, beaches, showers, boats – anywhere you need your tunes.
Both models come in a rainbow of colors. We got our hands on a white Flip 5 and a limited Martin Garrix Black version of the Flip 6. We tested them thoroughly with the competition to see how they match up and if they are worth buying.
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Alternatives to the JBL Flip 5 & Flip 6
JBL Charge 5
Essentially the same speaker as the Flip -slightly bigger with double the battery life. Also IP67-rated. (See here for our side-by-side testing of the Charge 5 and Flip 6 )
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Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
Our favorite sound from a portable Bluetooth speaker, IP55-rated.
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Bose SoundLink Flex
Similar size and sound to the Flip 5 and 6, IP67-rated
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Bang & Olufsen A1
Excellent sound for an IP67-rated Speaker. A Serious Competitor.
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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore
Great price, good sound, excellent battery life. IP67-rated
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Sound Quality
Winner: Draw
The audio output of both the Flip 5 and Flip 6 is commendable, especially when considering the price and durability of both speakers. Both speakers give you an enjoyable listen in difficult acoustic environments. We found them to be especially effective with hip-hop, pop, and other groove-heavy genres.
The differences between the Flip 5 and Flip 6 in terms of frequency response are subtle. The Flip 6 has a more hyped bass than the Flip 5 but with less edge from 2-3 kHz in the upper mids – that is about it. Considering that these speakers are designed to play music in difficult acoustic environments, the differences in response are even less significant.
The sound signature of both the Flip 5 and Flip 6 can be described as V-shaped. This sound profile gives the listener the best chance of hearing details in the treble while still feeling the groove in challenging acoustic environments,
Being waterproof Bluetooth speakers, they both have inherent limitations in terms of audio performance. The frequency response on both the Flip 5 and Flip 6 is 65 Hz – 20 kHz. This means that the sub-bass, or lowest range of human hearing, from 20 Hz – 65 Hz (the bottom 20 keys on a standard keyboard), is entirely absent.
All of the popular waterproof Bluetooth speakers that compete with the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 have similar outputs, with the lowest bass response going no lower than 55 Hz, as you can see in the table below.
Frequency Response of Portable Bluetooth Speakers Compared
| Model | Frequency Response |
| JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 | 65 Hz – 20 kHz |
| JBL Charge | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Bose SoundLink Revolve | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Bose SoundLink Flex | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore | 56 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 | 55 Hz – 20 kHz |
The acoustic compromises of listening on a boat, beach, worksite, or shower are going to make low frequencies muddy anyway. You won’t get clear articulation of the slow-travelling sub-bass sound waves under such conditions.
Neither speaker is going to wow you with transparent clarity. You’re getting a lot of bleed from bass to lower mids on both speakers and a veiled midrange as a result of the V-shaped sound signature of both speakers.
Even so, both speakers deliver reliable audio performance and significant volume considering their size.
Build / Design
Winner: Draw
Both speakers adhere to the cylindrical form of previous Flip speakers. Both weighing in at a mere 540 grams with a length just longer than a pencil, they are ideal for on-the-go users.
The build from the outside is nearly identical, the only difference being the larger JBL logo on the Flip 6.
The speaker design of both the Flip 5 and Flip 6 is rugged. Both are wrapped in durable fabric casing with robust rubber ends that serve to protect the exposed bass radiators.
The radiators are satisfying to watch as they bump like a speaker cone with the bass.
On the rear side of both speakers, users will find the power and Bluetooth pairing buttons. These buttons are surrounded by illuminating lights, signaling when the speaker is powered on and connected to a device.
And if you’d like to tie your speaker to your backpack or the nearest tree, they both have a nylon tie string.
Dust and Water Resistance
Winner: JBL Flip 6
Perhaps the biggest upgrade in the Flip 6 is its IP67 rating, which means the speaker is not only waterproof but dustproof.
This kind of durability never fails to impress. Being completely dust-tight, the Flip 6 can handle drywall dust, sand, and saltwater without damage. Just hose it off afterward and it’s as good as new. And, like the Flip 5 (IPX7 rated), it can be submerged underwater up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes, with no problem.
One important note: the USB-C port on both the Flip 5 and Flip 6 has no cover. It must be completely dried out before charging.
What is an IP Rating?
Terms like ‘waterproof’ or ‘dustproof’ can mean a lot of things. To clarify what a manufacturer means when they use such terms, the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) created the IP code or Ingress protection code.
IP ratings typically have IP followed by two numbers. The first number indicates the level of protection against solids, ranging from larger solids (like fingers) to smaller solids (like dust ). The solid range is from 0-6, 0 being no protection, and 6 being dust-tight.
The second number indicates the level of protection against liquids, ranging from drops of water to full immersion and high-pressure water jets. The liquid range is 0-9.
An ‘X’ indicates that there is insufficient data for that category. For example, IPX7 means the device is not dustproof, but it is level 7 waterproof.
(Level 7 means the device can be submerged in water up to 1 meter deep. Levels 8 and 9 go further, with protection under deeper waters or against high pressure water jets)
Battery Life
Winner: JBL Flip 6 (by a hair)
JBLs claims both speakers’ battery life is approximately 12 hours on continuous playback.
In our tests, with the speakers at half volume on continuous playback, the Flip 5 achieved 9 hours and 3 minutes and the Flip 6 delivered 9 hours and 40 minutes before shutting down.
Both speakers charge via USB-C with an empty-to-full charge time of 2.5 hours.
The Flip 5 and 6 will make it through one day of use in most cases but you may need a top-up charge with heavy use.
Going by the battery life figures as stated by the manufacturer alone, we can see in the chart above that the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6, when compared with similarly sized competitors, are tied with the Bose Soundlink Flex for the least amount of total playback time. The B&O Beosound Explore leads the pack with 27 hours.
JBL Portable App
The JBL Portable App (previously JBL Connect) allows you to update the firmware of your boombox, adjust EQ, and check the remaining battery life. We tested it out on Android and IOS and everything worked as it should.
The three-band EQ is sufficient for your needs with these speakers. Given that you’re not dealing with the intricate sounds of hi-fi, especially outdoors, three bands will do.
PartyBoost
Perhaps the most useful feature of the JBL Portable App is the PartyBoost mode. The app allows you to connect Flip 5 and Flip 6 with other JBL speakers that support this function. You can even create a stereo speaker set-up, with separate left and right channels for each speaker.
The JBL Flip 6 can be paired with a Flip 5, but they cannot be used as a stereo pair. Also of note, because the older models use an earlier version of the app, neither the Flip 5 nor the Flip 6 can be paired with a JBL Flip 4 or earlier.
Verdict: Which is better, the JBL Flip 5 or Flip 6? Are they worth it?
After testing, it was clear that the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 hold their ground as reliable, budget-friendly, durable options in the portable Bluetooth speaker market. They share many similarities, including their commendable audio output, V-shaped sound signature, and rugged design.
On the whole, we can say with confidence that the JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6 are worth the money.
The improved IP67 rating makes the JBL Flip 6 definitely worth the extra money (somewhere between $30-50 USD more depending on sale prices). That said, the Flip 5 is often on sale and definitely worth considering.
Compared to the competitive portable speakers on the market, the battery life is the main weakness of both speakers. If battery life is a priority, consider the B&O Beosound Explore (27-hour battery life).
For better sound performance, consider our favorite portable bluetooth speaker, the Bose SoundLink Revolve. For more sub-bass response, consider a larger, more powerful speaker like the JBL Boombox 3 (our complete review of the JBL Boombox 3 here).
JBL Flip 5
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JBL Flip 6
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FAQ
Q: What’s the difference between the JBL Flip 4 and Flip 5?
A: The JBL Flip 4 charges via micro-USB, the Flip 5 charges via USB-C. The Flip 4 has about half the battery life of the Flip 5. The Flip 4 has a microphone for taking calls – a feature the Flip 5 lacks. The Flip 4 and Flip 5 are not compatible via PartyBoost.
Q: How do you pair the JBL Flip 5?
A: Press the Bluetooth button on the speaker. You will hear some beeps which means you’ve entered pairing mode. Then select JBL Flip 5 in the Bluetooth settings of your device. Done.
Q: How do you pair the JBL Flip 6?
A: Same as the Flip 5 – Press the Bluetooth button on the speaker. You will hear some beeps which means you’ve entered pairing mode. Then select JBL Flip 6 in the Bluetooth settings of your device. Done.
Q: Does the JBL Flip 6 have a microphone?
A: No. Neither the Flip 5 nor the Flip 6 have a microphone. The Flip 4 was the last Flip speaker to have this feature.
Q: Can you connect to the JBL Flip 5 or Flip 6 with a cable?
A: No. Both speakers connect by Bluetooth alone.
Q: Does the JBL Flip 5 or Flip 6 support AAC, AptX, or LDAC?
A: No. Neither the Flip 5 nor the Flip 6 support any of the high-quality Bluetooth codecs.
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