The JBL Flip 5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2020, succeeding the JBL Flip 4. It has a small design with a durable build that's ideal for taking your favorite music with you on the go, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance to protect it against the elements. The JBL Portable app lets you pair it with other PartyBoost speakers in JBL's lineup, too. However, you don't get access to customization tools to switch up its sound.
Our Verdict
The JBL Flip 5 is acceptable for music. Like most small and portable speakers, it doesn't bring a deep rumble in the bass, but it's still suitable for listening to most music genres. Voices and lead instruments are fairly clear out of the box, with a touch of dullness in the treble. It's loud enough for an average-sized living room, but it doesn't get as loud as more premium models on the market. You also can't customize its sound via a graphic EQ or presets.
- Portable design.
- Fairly wide soundstage.
- No sound customization features.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The JBL Flip 5 isn't meant for watching movies, but if you pair it to your smartphone to watch videos, it can get the job done. Dialogue is fairly clear in the mix, and latency is low, especially with Android devices, so you likely won't notice lip-synching issues. However, it isn't loud enough to fill a large room, and there isn't enough bass to bring the deep rumble you get with larger speakers.
- Low latency with Android devices.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- High latency with iOS.
The JBL Flip 5 is satisfactory for podcasts. Dialogue is reproduced fairly clearly in the mix, so it's easy to follow along with your favorite shows. Since it's portable, you can bring it from room to room, and it's loud enough to fill most rooms with sound. You may have issues in larger spaces, so you'll want to stay closer to the device when you listen.
- Portable design.
- Fairly wide soundstage.
- Reproduces speech and dialogue well.
- No sound customization features.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The JBL Flip 5 doesn't support voice assistants.
The JBL Flip 5 is fair for outdoor use. It's a portable speaker with a durable build, meaning you can listen to your favorite tunes while on your next adventure. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, which also helps to protect it against the elements, and the removable strap makes transport easy. However, it doesn't get very loud, so it isn't the best choice for a backyard party.
- Portable design.
- IPX7 rating.
- No sound customization features.
- Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 15, 2024: We've updated the text of this review to ensure accuracy and clarity, but there have been no changes to the test results.
- Updated Jan 18, 2023: Updated review text for accuracy and clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Oct 11, 2022: Changed 'Track Next/Previous' test result from 'No' to 'Forward Only (Physical)' in the 'Controls' box. Also changed 'Floats In Water' result from 'Unspecified' to 'No' in the 'Build Quality' box.
- Updated Jan 20, 2022: JBL Connect app renamed as JBL Portable app.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker comes in several color variants: 'Black', 'Red', 'White', 'Teal', 'Blue', 'Gray', 'Green', 'Yellow', 'Pink', 'Sand', 'Yellow', and 'Camo' (also known as 'Squad'), and 'Black Camo'. We tested the Black Camo variant, and you can see its label here. You can also customize the look of this speaker with your own design through the manufacturer's website. We expect these color variants to perform similarly to our model. However, JBL also makes an 'Eco Edition' of this speaker, which the manufacturer advertises as being made from recycled plastic. This variant comes in two colors: 'Forest Green' and 'Ocean Blue'. Due to its unique build, we don't know if the Eco Edition performs similarly to our model.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL Flip 5 is a Bluetooth speaker that comes in a variety of color schemes to better suit your style. It's similar to the JBL Flip 4, but each speaker has different strengths. The Flip 4 is a stereo speaker that supports voice assistants through your paired smartphone, but the Flip 5 can reproduce a more extended low-bass. The Flip 5 isn't quite as well-built as its successor, the JBL Flip 6, which also features a graphic EQ for expanded sound customization options.
You can also link it with other PartyBoost speakers for stereo sound. Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best JBL speakers, and the best cheap speakers.
The JBL Flip 5 and the JBL Flip 6 are similar speakers. The Flip 5 can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Flip 6 out-of-the-box. It has a better battery performance, too. That said, the Flip 6 has a graphic EQ you can use to customize its sound profile. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Charge 5 has a more neutral sound profile and longer battery life, though the latter can vary depending on your usage habits. It's also better built and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance. However, while the Charge 5 can get louder with slightly fewer compression artifacts at max volume, the Flip 5 has a somewhat wider-sounding soundstage.
The JBL Flip 5 and the Beats Pill are similarly-sized portable speakers with detachable carrying straps. While both offer a similar performance, there are some differences in features that can influence your buying decision. The Beats has a more balanced default sound, with a less recessed treble range and slightly better bass extension. It also compresses less at max volume and is compatible with Google Assistant and Siri if paired with an iPhone or Android phone, making it a better choice for users that use voice commands. The JBL features Bluetooth multi-device pairing though, which can be useful if you and a friend want to share tune selection duties. The JBL is also retails for less and comes in a wider variety of color variants. All in all, the JBL is a good choice for those who want a portable speaker on a budget, but the Beats' superior sound and voice assistant compatibility could be worth the additional outlay.
The JBL Flip 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The FLIP has better directivity, resulting in a wider soundstage. It also has a more balanced sound profile. However, the Charge has a longer battery life.
Test Results
The JBL Flip 5 is a cylindrical speaker with a tight-knit fabric wrapped around the speakers. You can place it horizontally or vertically, and it has a removable strap. It comes in many color variations, so you can find a style that looks best for you. You can also personalize your speaker's design via JBL's website. Check out the TREBLAB HD77 for a similar speaker with RGB lights.
This speaker is incredibly portable. It has a strap so you can easily carry it around. It also uses a battery, so you don't need to plug it into a power outlet when you're outside.
This speaker has a good build quality. It's made of plastic, which feels quite solid and durable. The fabric wrapped around the edges is tight, too, so it won't rip easily. While there's no cover for the USB-C port, the speaker still has an IPX7 rating, so it's certified to be submersible in water at a depth of one meter for up to thirty minutes.
You can use the speaker's controls to turn it on and off, pair a Bluetooth device, and adjust the volume. The 'PartyBoost' button lets you link the speaker with other PartyBoost speakers. While you can skip the track forward by pressing the play button twice, you can't go to a previous track.
Feedback is good. There's a chime to tell you when you've reached max volume, and there are lights on top of the power and Bluetooth buttons to let you know when it's on and connected to a source. There's a light indicator to let you know that the speaker is charging. If you're looking for a speaker with a wider selection of controls, check out the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II.
This small speaker has a passable frequency response accuracy. The mids are balanced, so the speaker reproduces voices and lead instruments with clarity. As a result, it's a suitable choice for listening to many different types of audio content. There's a slight dip in the treble, though, that adds a dull quality to the sound, and the lack of low-bass is noticeable with genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, there are no customization options to tailor the sound to your liking.
Its directivity is good, so audio sounds good from most angles around the speaker. However, on its own, it has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. If you want stereo sound, you'll need to pair this speaker with another PartyBoost-compatible speaker from the JBL lineup.
This speaker gets loud enough to fill an average-sized living room with sound but can't fill up larger, more open spaces like a backyard. Also, at max volume, there's some compression and pumping artifacts in the mix, especially in the bass range.
The manufacturer says it can last up to 12 hours off a single charge, but this speaker lasts a little over eight hours with real-life use. Battery life can vary depending on your usage habits, though. This speaker also has a power-saving feature that shuts it off after twenty minutes of inactivity, which is handy.
The JBL Portable app is okay. It's compatible with Android and iOS. If you have another PartyBoost speaker, you can pair two units to create a stereo pair or link several units to play the same audio across a larger space. However, unlike the JBL Flip 6 and Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, there's no graphic EQ function, so you can't tweak its sound profile.
You can't use this speaker wired. It comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging up the speaker.
The JBL Flip 5 has great Bluetooth connectivity. Unlike the OontZ Angle 3 ULTRA, you can pair it with up to two speakers at a time, and it has low audio latency on Android devices, which is good if you like to stream video. While latency on iOS is a bit higher, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary. For a speaker with lower latency over Bluetooth with iOS and Android devices, consider the Beats Pill+.