JBL Flip 5 Review: Affordable speaker for the outdoors
Verdict
The JBL Flip 5 is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable speaker to have out and about, rain or shine, without having to worry about the battery depleting before the party'southward over. However, the absent-minded microphone will exist a drawback for anyone hoping to make calls with the speaker, or talk with Siri or Google Assistant.
Pros
- Rugged and waterproof blueprint
- Long-lasting battery
- Warm and energetic sound
Cons
- No microphone for calls/voice assistant
- No three.5mm jack for a wired connection
Availability
- Britain RRP: £119.99
- USA RRP: $119.95
- Europe RRP: €129.00
- Canada RRP: CA$149.98
- Australia RRP: AU$169.95
Key Features
- Racetrack-shaped driver Designed to deliver loftier output with deep bass
- Water-resistant pattern IPX7 means the speaker tin exist submerged in 1m of h2o for up to 30 minutes
- PartyBoost mode This feature lets you lot listen in stereo with two speakers or connect fifty-fifty more
- Long-lasting bombardment life JBL claims this speaker can last for up to 12 hours
Introduction
The Flip v is the fifth speaker in JBL'southward Flip range. It sits in the middle of JBL's portable speaker lineup, above the budget-friendly JBL Get iii and Clip 4, and beneath the pricier Accuse v and Pulse iv.
The Flip 5 is the successor to the Flip iv, which scored an impressive four out of 5 stars in our review. We praised the speaker's rugged, water-resistant design and punchy bass; but, sadly, the audio wasn't refined enough to score a perfect five.
JBL recently announced the Flip half-dozen, which comes with a refreshed logo design and colour range, forth with an all-new audio configuration designed to deliver detailed audio from the bass to higher frequencies.
With the Flip 5 withal bachelor on JBL's website at a lower price than its successor, we put the speaker to the examination.
Pattern
- The Flip 5 comes in xi different colours
- The speaker is durable and waterproof up to IPX7
- The rear buttons and charging bar light up
The Flip v is a rugged portable speaker that's available in a broad variety of brilliant and cheerful colours, as well as in more muted black and white shades. The model I tested was the Flip five Ocean, which is actually the make'south "Eco Edition".
The Eco Edition is congenital from 90% recycled plastic and comes in an environmentally friendly packaging, making it the slightly more sustainable choice. Otherwise, the speaker shares the same blueprint and specs as the standard Flip 5.
The Flip v is a compact and lightweight cylindrical-shaped speaker. It looks a chip similar the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, simply with more of a bend to it. The speaker can exist positioned upright or on its side, thank you to a flat safety panel that prevents the device from rolling around.
Much of the Flip five is wrapped in a mesh textile material, while the ends are made of a durable rubber. There's a strap on one cease, and the speaker is waterproof up to IPX7, meaning information technology can handle being submerged in ane metre of water for upwardly to thirty minutes. JBL labels the Flip five an "all purpose, all weather companion".
The main playback controls can be found across the length of the speaker, including a play/pause button that besides allows you lot to skip tracks if pressed twice, book controls, and a PartyBoost button that allows you to connect multiple speakers at once.
There'due south also an on/off switch and a Bluetooth pairing button on the back panel, forth with a USB-C port for charging. All iii light upward, making information technology easy to find the buttons in the dark – and you can also see just how much progress the speaker has made charging, every bit the bar next to the USB-C port gradually lights upward.
However, JBL has chosen to get rid of the iii.5mm jack with this model, significant you'll accept to use Bluetooth to connect the speaker to your phone or laptop.
Features
- The PartyBoost feature lets you listen in stereo with two speakers
- In that location's no mic to make calls or employ your vocalisation assistant
- The bombardment life is impressively long
Pairing a device with the Flip five is quick and piece of cake with Bluetooth 4.2. Just press the Bluetooth button on the side of the speaker and it should bear witness up on your phone or laptop's list of available devices.
The Flip is compatible with the JBL Connect app, which can exist used to update the speaker's software, check its bombardment life, and connect speakers in PartyBoost style.
PartyBoost tin also be accessed using the large infinity sign button on the side of the Flip 5. The feature makes information technology possible to link ii speakers for stereo audio or to connect multiple speakers for a bigger sound at a party or around the home.
Unfortunately, the Flip v also signalled some losses for the Flip series. JBL has taken abroad the microphone on the speaker, significant it no longer has the speakerphone phone call functionality present on the Flip 4.
The lack of mic besides means at that place'southward no vocalisation assistant integration this fourth dimension. With the Flip four, you could admission Siri and Google Assistant with the press of a button.
As far every bit bombardment life goes, the Flip 5 certainly delivers. Like the Flip 4, the Flip 5 claims to offering 12 hours of playtime. I found the battery life far outlasted this fourth dimension, clearing the 24-hour mark with ease. I did examination the speaker at a low to medium volume, yet; the playtime is likely to be shorter in situations such as parties, where the volume will be louder.
The JBL Flip 5 doesn't support wireless or fast charging. If y'all want to charge the speaker from 0% to 100%, you'll have to look ii.5 hours. That's an hour less than the charge fourth dimension on the Flip iv.
Audio quality
- There's a new racetrack-shaped driver
- The audio is balanced and detailed
- The bass is full and warm
Within the Flip v, yous'll notice a newly engineered racetrack-shaped driver. According to JBL, the shape amplifies the company's signature sound to deliver "well-baked highs and deep bass" – and information technology's tough to contend with this description of the sound.
The speaker demonstrates splendid tonal residuum across a variety of tracks and genres. An case of this can be establish in Lorde'due south Solar Ability. The song shows off the Flip's warm bass without taking away from the crispness of the guitar and vocals. There'south a articulate stereo image here, and each component of the song is packed with detail.
I switched over to Kendrick Lamar's Apprehensive to become a better experience of the bass performance – and the Flip 5 didn't disappoint. The bass is full and, while it would be tough for such a small speaker to shake the ground, it certainly tries its all-time to do so. The bass makes this track a dynamic listen and the soundstage is wide and spacious.
Moving on to something more mellow, Kickoff Step by Hans Zimmer, and the Flip 5 does an even meliorate job at demonstrating its dynamism as the volume builds from the starting time to the stop of the piece in a dramatic crescendo. There's likewise cracking tonal residual and enough of item to exist plant hither.
One thing I did notice while testing this speaker is that information technology sounds all-time when positioned on its side. You can certainly utilize the Flip standing upright or hanging vertically from the attached strap, but if you desire the best audio experience, I'd definitely place information technology on its side with the JBL logo directed towards you.
Latest deals
Should y'all buy information technology?
You want a fantastic and affordable speaker The Flip 5 packs a vibrant and durable design, an extensive bombardment life and a full sound, making information technology a great all-rounder.
You desire a speaker you can use for calls The Flip 5 is missing the mic constitute on the Flip four, meaning it tin can't be used to make calls and you lot won't be able to chat with your called voice assistant.
Terminal thoughts
The JBL Flip five is a nifty option for anyone looking for an inexpensive speaker that can withstand a practiced amount of wear and tear.
The Flip v has an impressive battery life, capable of doubling its 12 60 minutes claim on lower volumes meaning y'all shouldn't need to stop and recharge too often.
The biggest drawback here is the loss of the microphone that was available on the Flip 4. This means y'all won't exist able to use the speaker to make calls or control it hands-free with your chosen voice assistant as you could with the previous generation of the JBL speaker.
How we test
We test every wireless speaker we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We utilise manufacture standard tests to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we observe. We never, ever, have money to review a production.
Used the speaker for i week
Tested the battery to find out how long it lasts
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FAQs
Is the speaker waterproof?
Aye, the Flip five has an IP rating of IPX7, significant it tin can be submerged in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes.
What is the battery life?
JBL claims this speaker volition play for 12 hours.
Does the speaker support Siri or Google Assistant?
No, there'southward no vocalism assistant support on the Flip 5.
Specs
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UK RRP
Us RRP
European union RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Bombardment Hours
Size (Dimensions)
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Ports
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Jargon buster
Bluetooth
Bluetooth - named after tenth-century Danish king Harald Bluetooth who united Denmark's tribes into a unmarried kingdom - is a method of wireless transmission that allows for the exchange of data betwixt devices over brusque distances.
IP rating
An abbreviation for 'Ingress Protection Code', which lets you know to what extent a device might be waterproof or dustproof.
USB-C
The modernistic USB connector y'all'll find on most Android phones, new laptops, cameras and games consoles. It's reversible and used for charging forth with data-transfer.
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/jbl-flip-5
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