Portable Bluetooth speakersare so handy that everyone who care to listen to medicine should own one . For years , JBL ’s Flip line of speakers has been lead recommendation lists across the internet and for good reason : they ’re the perfect portmanteau of portability , ruggedness , and sound quality .
The question is , now that theFlip is in its seventh generation , should you corrupt JBL ’s latest and greatest portable , or stick with theFlip 6even though it ’s now a few years old ?
have ’s put ‘ em both side by side and see which one draw the most sense for you .
JBL Flip 6
JBL Flip 7
Flip 7 vs. Flip 6: Price
Not only is the Flip 7 brand Modern and therefore unlikely to see significant discount until the holiday season , but it also starts out $ 20 more expensive than the Flip 6 did when it was released : $ 150 versus $ 130 .
On the insolent side , the Flip 6 is already selling for way of life less than its original price — in some suit for as small as $ 80 .
At $ 20 toll may not be massive , but $ 70 is a big savings . A 46 % savings , to be precise .
On price alone , this one ’s as easy as it pay off .
Winner : JBL Flip 6
Flip 7 vs. Flip 6: Specs comparison
USB AudioSwappable adherence
If size , shape , and weight are the specs that govern how portable a speaker is , there ’s no difference between the Flip 7 and Flip 6 .
The Flip 7 does savour higher ratings for ruggedness . The Flip 6 is IP67 , gain it effectively water and rubble - proof . The Flip 7 is IP68 - rated . That undivided - digit difference stand for that the Flip 7 can withstand 30 minutes of full immersion at a depth of 1.5 meters , whereas the Flip 6 can only handle 1 meter . But since neither speaker float , you likely should n’t take either one in the pool .
The Flip 7 has also been drop - test to a tallness of 1 measure onto concrete . I suspect the Flip 6 could deal a similar cliff , but officially speaking , it has n’t proven it can do so .
Since portable verbaliser are often used far from office sources , battery life sentence is arguably the most authoritative specification . While 14 hours versus 12 hour might not seem like a huge bump , with the Flip 7 ’s Playtime Boost manner , you may increase its endurance to 16 hours , which is a very welcome betterment .
The Flip 7 can get louder . Not massively so , but when you want to power a party , every bit facilitate .
The only other major difference is the Flip 7 ’s USB audio capacity . We ’ll cover this under healthy caliber , because that ’s the only benefit .
finally , there ’s the Flip 7 ’s use of Aurcast instead of the Flip 6 ’s PartyBoost technical school . Both let these loudspeaker system be used as stereo pairs or as part of a larger aggregation of simultaneously playing loudspeaker . However , PartyBoost is only compatible with a small phone number of other JBL PartyBoost loudspeaker system , whereasAuracastis plunk for on virtually all of JBL ’s new production line of portable speakers , including its PartyBox lineup .
success : JBL Flip 7
Flip 7 vs. Flip 6: Design
The Flip 6 and 7 look so likewise , it ’s nearly impossible to distinguish them aside . Still , JBL has made some serious-minded changes to the Flip 7 that you may find out worthy .
alternatively of a single loop wrist joint lanyard , JBL includes a carry loop topology and a carabiner attachment and these can be switch in seconds thanks to the Flip 7 ’s clever Pushlock system .
The control buttons have simplified . Instead of placing the Party Boost button next to the volume - down push , where you might compress it by accident , the Aurcast clitoris is now located next to the power and Bluetooth buttons on the back of the speaker .
extremely observant folks will note that the endcaps on the Flip 7 are now configured with four raised rubber “ feet ” instead of the tripod design on the Flip 6 , but this does n’t bear upon performance or functionality .
These changes are all minor , but they ’re changes for the better , so the Flip 7 win this one by a whisker .
Flip 7 vs. Flip 6: Sound quality
JBL made quite a few tweaks to the Flip 7 ’s audio feature . The drivers are the same size , but now the woofer gets five more watts of magnate for a amount of 35 watts versus 30 watts on the Flip 6 .
There ’s a new AI Sound Boost algorithmic program that ’s project to keep distorted shape in check even as you take advantage of that greater volume .
And within the JBL Portables app , the Flip 7 has access code to a much blanket reach of EQ adaptation including presets and a custom equalizer .
The result ( especially when you engage the up-and-coming preset ) is a significantly punchier , more potent bass reply . When coalesce with the Flip 7 ’s greater power , it really is a more satisfying hearing experience no matter of literary genre .
USB audio Lashkar-e-Taiba you take advantage oflossless audio . candidly , you wo n’t notice the improvement if you ’re outside , especially if you ’re having a political party . But for indoor listening , when you’re able to really devote attention , there are subtle improvements to be heard .
It ’s worth note that all of the Flip 7 ’s sonic advantages can only be appreciated above a bulk level great than 50 % . Nonetheless , the newer model kicks out fuller , more powerful auditory sensation , so this one goes to the Flip 7 too .
Flip 7 vs. Flip 6: The verdict
On paper and in tangible aliveness , the Flip 7 ’s improvements make for an undeniably better portable verbaliser .
And if , free-base on their regular damage , you only had to pay $ 20 more for the Flip 7 over the Flip 6 , I ’d say this is a slam - dunk for the Flip 7 .
But the realness is , the Flip 6 has almost spent more clip at $ 100 over the last two eld , and now that the Flip 7 is here to give it challenger , I expect we ’ll see the Flip 6 at that price or lower from now until the last of 2025 .
Better is better , so we ’re going to call the Flip 7 our overall winner . But even with the Flip 7 ’s welcome improvements , if you may catch a Flip 6 for $ 80-$100 , I think you should do so .
