The JBL Flip 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that comes in lots of different color variants to meet your unique style. It's a small and lightweight device that's designed to bring your favorite tunes with you on the go, and its detachable carrying strap makes it easy to attach to your bag while you're out and about. It's even rated IPX7 for water resistance, meaning you can immerse it in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
Our Verdict
The JBL Flip 4 isn't bad for music. Right out of the box, you get a fairly even sound, especially in the mids. Voices and lead instruments are clear and detailed in the mix, making it suitable for listening to a wide array of audio content. That said, since it's a smaller speaker, it can't bring the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass that's often found in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Plus, there aren't any customization tools to switch up its sound.
- Pairs with up to two devices at once.
- Clear vocal reproduction.
- No customization tools.
- Not a lot of low-bass.
The JBL Flip 4 is passable for videos and movies. It isn't designed with this use in mind, but if you want to watch a video on a paired smartphone, it can get the job done. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and the low latency ensures that you don't have any issues with lip-synching. However, compared to speakers that are designed for movies, it doesn't get as loud and doesn't bring as much rumble in the bass.
- Pairs with up to two devices at once.
- Clear vocal reproduction.
- Not a lot of low-bass.
- Doesn't get as loud as other speakers.
The JBL Flip 4 is decent for podcasts. Dialogue is reproduced with great clarity right out of the box, meaning you can follow along with your favorite hosts with ease. Its portable design means you can bring it with you from room to room. It's better for listening in more average-sized rooms since it doesn't get loud enough to fill larger, more open spaces with sound.
- Pairs with up to two devices at once.
- Portable design.
- No customization tools.
- Doesn't get as loud as other speakers.
The JBL Flip 4 is disappointing for voice assistants. It doesn't have any built-in support for voice assistants, so you have to use the tools integrated into your smartphone when paired with the device. As a result, you can't activate it with only your voice. Still, once you set it up, the speaker does a decent job picking up your commands, especially in noisier environments like parties.
- Portable design.
- No built-in voice assistant support.
- No mic mute button.
The JBL Flip 4 is decent for outdoor use. It's a lightweight and small Bluetooth speaker that's easy to carry with you wherever you go. There's even a removable carrying strap in case you want to clip it onto your bag. Plus, it's rated IPX7 for water resistance, meaning it can withstand some light exposure to the elements. It doesn't get quite as loud as some other speakers on the market, so it's better for a small picnic with friends than a booming backyard party.
- IPX7 Rating for water resistance.
- Portable design.
- No customization tools.
- Doesn't get as loud as other speakers.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Flip 4 waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker comes in eight color variants: Black, Blue, Camouflage, Gray, Ocean Blue, Red, Teal, and White. We expect them to perform similarly. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can find its label here.
If you come across other variants, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL Flip 4 is a small portable Bluetooth speaker with a removable carrying strap to help transport it. Unlike the JBL Flip 5, this small speaker has a microphone, meaning you can use voice assistants through your smartphone. It has an overall balanced sound profile out of the box, though it struggles to produce a thumpy low-bass. It also comes with a JBL Connect+ feature you can use to connect it to multiple other JBL Connect+ speakers, like the JBL Charge 4. However, you can't connect it to PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers like the JBL Flip 5 or the JBL Charge 5. Like most JBL speakers we've tested, it also lacks sound customization features like a graphic EQ to adjust its sound to your liking.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best JBL speakers, and the best cheap speakers.
The JBL Flip 4 is a more versatile speaker than the JBL Flip 5 overall, though they're very similar and have different strengths. The Flip 4 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and supports voice assistants through your smartphone, thanks to a built-in microphone. You can also only connect it to JBL speakers that are compatible with JBL Connect+. That said, the Flip 5 can produce a more extended low-bass than the Flip 4 and can only connect to PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers.
The JBL Flip 4 is more versatile than the JBL Flip 6. When placed horizontally, the Flip 4 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It has a longer-lasting battery life and features an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker. Also, it supports voice assistants through your smartphone. However, the Flip 6 has a graphic EQ to customize its sound profile to your liking. It's better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It also has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. That said, the Flip 4 can only pair with JBL speakers that support JBL Connect+, while the Flip 6 can only pair with PartyBoost-compatible speakers.
The JBL Flip 4 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Flip 4 has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Go 3. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and supports voice assistants via your smartphone. That said, the Go 3 is smaller, making it more portable. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it's fully dust-tight and submersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL Flip 4 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Flip 4 has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It supports voice assistants through your smartphone and is smaller, making it more portable. However, the Charge 4 can produce a more extended low-bass than the Flip 4. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ.
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