There are not many items that are getting universal recommendations. From cars to kitchen knives, everything has a multitude of opinions and feedback for people to look into before purchasing. That isn’t the case with portable, waterproof Bluetooth speakers. For years now, if you wanted to have a speaker you could carry to the beach, getting the JBL Flip won’t break the bank. Flip 4 remains the crowd favorite for quite some time now. Can JBL Flip 5 beat the record?

Who is this bluetooth speaker for?

Singers in shower. Covering the IPX7 ensures it’s fully water-resistant. JBL Flip 5 is great for poolside jams, of course. But if you want to bring your music with you to the shower, that’s fine.

Anyone in search of their first Bluetooth speaker. We wouldn’t suggest getting this if you already have the Flip 4. However, this Flip 5 is perfect for those looking for their first Bluetooth speaker. For as long as you can with the USB-C charging included here, you will make your purchase future-proof.

Someone who likes being outdoors. If you’re hiking, camping or just going to the beach, the Flip series has always been a fantastic companion. Things don’t change with the Flip 5.

Build quality

If one thing is famous for the JBL Flip sequence, it’s because of being tough. The Flip series started splashproof and gradually made the leap fully waterproof. That’s still the case with the new JBL Flip 5.

This Bluetooth speaker’s durable fabric material gives it an IPX7 rating. Hence, JBL Flip 5 can withstand being submerged in water up to three feet. A sturdy rubber is present on either end of the speaker, which protects the exposed bass radiators.

There’s the power button and Bluetooth pairing button down the speaker’s back and the USB-C connection to charge the speaker up. Both buttons here have lights around them to attach to a source computer when the speaker is on.

Battery life

JBL says you ‘re going to get 12 hours of continuous playback with the JBL Flip 5. We’ve got 9 hours and 27 minutes in our testing. That isn’t bad at all, but only falls short of the 12 hours claimed. Even for an ordinary day at the beach or an auspicious day walk, that is more than enough.

Performance

JBL updated the driver inside of the speaker to give it a deeper low end. Wireless speakers from JBL appear to adopt a signature sound that is approximately close to Harman’s goal curve. Essentially, middle-C and lower bass notes see a rise from 2-8dB. The mids accentuate uniformly while the highs softly attenuated. The Flip 5 doesn’t buck this pattern. So you’ll be pleased with the sound without any in-app equalizers or junk like that being too futzing. Take it out of the case, and use it.

The bass certainly sounds better in JBL Flip 5 this time around than JBL Flip 4. Still, it’s not the biggest thing you’ve ever heard. The difference is sparse. So if you’re hanging out on the yard or the beach, you ‘re likely to stream off a low-quality service like Spotify or Apple Music. If you do not always pay attention to the subtleties of the bass response, you can not hear them anyway.

Verdict

If you don’t have a Bluetooth speaker already, and you’re searching for an inexpensive speaker to knock around on your next adventure: yes, the JBL Flip 5 is worth it. It has a durable waterproof fabric, right tone, reasonable battery life. Flip 5’s compact size makes it a perfect choice for just about everyone. Apart from USB-C charging and a slightly improved device, you ‘re not losing out on anything. Still, do those things really matter in a speaker you ‘re just planning on beating up anyway? The response for most people is no.