If you are in a hurry! Here is a quick comparison between JBL Flip 4 and Flip 5.
|
Model |
JBL Flip 4 |
JBL Flip 5 |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
2.76 x 6.89 x 2.68 inches |
2.9 x 7.1 x 2.7 inches |
|
Weight |
1.14 pounds |
1.2 pounds |
|
Wireless pairing |
JBL Connect+ |
JBL PartyBoost |
|
Frequency range |
70Hz – 20kHz |
65Hz – 20kHz |
|
Charging time |
3.5 hours |
2.5 hours |
|
Battery capacity |
3,000 mAh |
4,800 mAh |
|
Battery life |
Approximately 12 hours |
Approximately 12 hours |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 4.2 |
Bluetooth 4.2 |
|
Rating |
||
|
Price |
When it comes to buying a Bluetooth speaker, JBL is an obvious choice as it is in a league of its own. JBL has different categories of Bluetooth speakers, all of which are made for different occasions.
Sometimes it is difficult to choose a Bluetooth speaker because most have similar characteristics but offer different performances and are available in different price ranges.
If you are interested in decent sound quality and high volume which is perfect for any home or low-key pool party occasion, you should look at buying a mid-sized speaker.
Fortunately, JBL has just the right mid-sized Bluetooth speaker for you, and it’s called the Flip series.
Flip 5 is their latest creation in this mid-sized series and it came out about a year ago. It is an upgrade to the extremely popular JBL Flip 4 which was released back in 2017.
Although both these speakers look similar, there are significant differences between them.
If you are wondering whether you should spend additional money on the latest JBL 5 or just buy the JBL 4 and save some money, don’t worry, we are here to help you out!
We will compare their performance, sound quality, design, and include key differences to find out which one is best, the JBL Flip 4 or the Flip 5.
Table of contents1 JBL Flip 41.1 Design1.2 Performance1.3 Pros1.4 Cons2 JBL Flip 52.1 Design2.2 Performance2.3 Pros2.4 Cons3 Which One is Best: JBL Flip 4 or Flip 5?3.1 Design3.2 Sound Quality3.3 Connectivity4 Key Differences4.1 Microphone4.2 Charging time4.3 Sound Quality5 Verdict
JBL Flip 4
The Flip 4 is a robust, small Bluetooth speaker which has been around for quite a while. It is a mid-range Bluetooth speaker that is affordable but still produces a decent sound quality.
It is also splashproof and has IPX7 certification, which makes it perfect for a pool party or any other outdoor occasion.
Design
If you want a Bluetooth speaker that stands out in terms of design, you should look elsewhere. The JBL Flip 4 features a cylindrical design wrapped up in durable fabric and other materials which are designed to keep dirt and debris out. Most of the Flip 4 is covered in rubber, which makes it a great outdoor-friendly speaker.
As with most JBL speakers, it has four buttons, a large play button, volume up and down, and Bluetooth sync. All the buttons are quite chunky, which makes them easily accessible if the speaker is covered in mud or when you are wearing gloves.
On the back side, there is the essential power control, along with a battery indicator with five small LED lights, which turn red when you need to recharge your speaker. In addition, there is another sync button which allows you to connect multiple Bluetooth speakers simultaneously.
Similar to other JBL speakers, the micro USB socket and the AUX port are covered with a waterproof covering. In order to improve the active use of the JBL 4, it comes with a carrying strap. You can loop this strap and use it to carry the device around or simply treat it as a stylish addition.
The Flip 4 features a traditional design which may seem a little basic to some people. You can spice things up with different colors as it comes in 9 different shades.
More: JBL Flip 4 vs JBL Charge 4: Which Bluetooth Speaker is the Better Option?
Performance
As this has a simple and durable design for outdoor use, it is time to dig deeper into the performance.
Given its size and price, you cannot expect this to be a well-rounded speaker, but it can still produce excellent sound quality. Although we are talking about mid-sized speakers, the bass is pretty beefy and evenly rounded.
JBL is one of the biggest companies when it comes to speakers, so you should expect nothing less than perfection. The best thing is that even when you crank the volume up, there is no clipping or distortion.
The only downside with the Flip 4’s performance is the lack of mid-range sounds, but the vocals are still pleasing. With its bass radiators, you can really feel the beat when you turn the volume up to max. To be fair, it isn’t the greatest sound you will ever get from a Bluetooth speaker, but it is still enough to get a party started whether you use it indoors or outside.
Another great feature of the Flip 4 is its battery life. It features a 3,000 mAh battery which is capable of playing music for up to 12 hours between charges.
Pros
- Made from high-quality, robust materials; great for outdoor use
- Decent sound-quality and hard bass
- Great battery life
- Waterproof with IPX7 certification
Cons
- Minimalistic design which feels a little outdated
- Barely noticeable lack of mid-tones
JBL Flip 5
JBL’s latest product in the Flip series has been on the market for over a year. Through time, JBL has proven that its latest models are much better than its previous ones. Let’s look at the specifications and find out if it is worth the upgrade.
Design
At first glance, you might think that the Flip 5 and the Flip 4 are identical, but there are some quite significant differences in the latest model. JBL is a company which is known for producing extremely durable speakers, and the situation with the Flip 5 is no exception.
The JBL Flip 5 is also cylindrical in shape and is covered with durable rubber fabric housing for extra impact resistance. The Flip 5 has a similar design to the Flip 4, and the most noticeable difference is the connectivity buttons.
The Flip 5 has four buttons on the front, but instead of Bluetooth connection, it has JBL’s PartyBoost button, which allows you to connect with other speakers. The Bluetooth connection button is placed on the back of the speaker right next to the power button.
Most of the newer JBL Bluetooth speakers don’t have a cover flap to protect the USB port and AUX from the weather. Another slight drawback is the Flip 5 doesn’t have an AUX port. However, it has a waterproof USB-C port which doesn’t have a cover.
The JBL Flip 5 has a broader color palette to choose from (11 colors) and has a single light rather than a flashing LED to show the battery power status.
More: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Studio 6: Should You Upgrade?
Performance
You will be surprised by the sound performance of the latest JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker. Despite its smaller size, it can produce shockingly clear sounds with sharpness and precision. The Flip 5 has something called rhythmic and spaciousness knack which fits every element from low to high tones perfectly together.
With its bass radiators, it is capable of producing quite a hit when you crank up the volume. Don’t let its size fool you; the JBL Flip 5 is a very loud Bluetooth speaker. It is just enough for an outdoor pool party or to replace your apartment sound system.
The Flip 5 also has a better battery capacity of 4,800 mAh, but due to its higher performance, its battery life is almost identical to its predecessor.
Pros
- It has excellent sound quality with enhanced vocals
- Made from high-quality, durable materials
- Comes in 11 different colors
- USB-C Charger
Cons
- Minimalistic design quite similar to the Flip 4
- No AUX port
Which One is Best: JBL Flip 4 or Flip 5?
As both products share some similarities, it can be difficult for people to decide which is the better option of the JBL Flip 4 or Flip 5. Here, we will look at some of their characteristics and offer a full comparison of their features.
Design
When it comes to design, both speakers look almost identical. However, there are a few differences between them.
Firstly, the most significant change design-wise from the Flip 4 to the Flip 5 is the buttons. Both speakers have four buttons, but as we have already mentioned, the Flip 5 has the share play on the front side of the speaker rather than on the back like the Flip 4.
In addition, the Flip 5 has a more modern look with all the backlighting behind the buttons on the back.
When it comes to size, they are almost identical. The Flip 5 is slightly heavier, weighing in at 540 grams compared to the Flip 4 which is only 510 grams, but it is not that noticeable a difference.
The additional weight comes from the taller dimensions of the Flip 5 of 7.1 x 2.7 x 2.9 inches, whereas the Flip 4 has dimensions of 6.88 x 6.67 x 2.75 inches.
Although the Flip 5 doesn’t have an AUX port, most devices nowadays have Bluetooth, so you will be able to play music without any problems.
The winner of the design comparison is the Flip 5, simply because it feels a bit more modern, and you can choose your design from 11 colors, rather than the 6 which are available for the Flip 4.
More: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 vs JBL Boombox: Which Bluetooth Speaker Is the Best Choice?
Sound Quality
The sound quality is a deciding factor when it comes to comparing the JBL Flip 4 to the Flip 5. Obviously, the newer JBL Flip 5 offers better sound performance than its predecessor.
The Flip 5 has a deeper bass tone and less exaggerated high notes. In addition, the Flip 5 has a lower frequency response of 65Hz compared to the Flip 4 which has 70Hz. This means that you get stronger bass tones.
When we compare the mid-tones, there is no significant difference between both Bluetooth speakers. The high tones sound harsher on the Flip 4, which gives the Flip 5 a slight advantage over the high and low tones.
If you are a music lover, everything comes down to sound quality. The apparent winner of the sound quality comparison, is the Flip 5. However, if you want a budget-friendly option that still delivers a decent sound, the Flip 4 is the correct choice.
Connectivity
If you like the option of connecting your JBL Bluetooth speaker to another one to create a sound system, you might reconsider your choice.
The new JBL Flip 5 comes with a new technology called the PartyBoost system which has replaced the old Connect + technology.
So, what does this mean?
Well, if you buy the latest Flip 5, you won’t be able to connect with older generation models which have Connect + technology. This is a huge deal-breaker, particularly if you have an older speaker in your home.
As we have already mentioned, JBL decided to remove the wired connection on the newer Flip 5 model, and has focused instead on growing the trend for wireless connectivity devices. On the other hand, the Flip 4 comes with AUX connectivity, which might not be a deciding factor as most devices already have Bluetooth.
The winner of the connectivity test is the JBL Flip 4 as it has older Connect + technology which is compatible with previous devices that most people have.
More: JBL Xtreme 2 vs Charge 4: Which One Is the Best?
Key Differences
Even though both devices are comparable, it is important to know about several key differences.
Microphone
Firstly, the new Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker doesn’t have a built-in microphone. This is a huge disadvantage for those who purchase the speaker not just for playing music, but also for connecting it with a computer or using voice commands.
The noise-canceling microphone on the Flip 4 works like a charm, so it is incredibly easy to talk to someone when you are connected to your Bluetooth speaker.
Charging time
Another important difference is the charging time for both speakers. As the latest JBL Flip 5 has an ultra-fast USB-C charging port, you should expect a lower charging time even though it has a larger battery capacity.
In fact, the JBL Flip 5 can be fully charged in 2.5 hours, whereas the Flip 4 takes 3.5 hours to charge.
Sound Quality
JBL is going for a “less is more” strategy, where there is no AUX or microphone, but a much better sound quality is offered. The enhanced high tones and deeper kicks from the bass will make you forget about the lack of an AUX port.
If you are a true music lover, the obvious choice is the Flip 5, despite the lack of the same features that its predecessor offered. However, if you want a more interactive Bluetooth speaker which can be used for many purposes, the Flip 4 should be your choice.
More: JBL Xtreme 2 vs Xtreme: Should You Consider the Upgrade?
Verdict
JBL is a company which produces high-quality Bluetooth speakers, so whichever one you choose, you won’t regret your decision.
However, the real winner of this comparison is the JBL Flip 5.
The improved design, increased color options, and better sound-quality truly place the Flip 5 above most mid-range Bluetooth speakers. Both Bluetooth speakers share similarities, from water-resistant technology to minimalistic design, but its sound quality and performance make the Flip 5 the winner of this comparison.
However, everything comes at a price. If you want a more budget-friendly option which still performs excellently, you should go for the Flip 4. Remember that we are talking about one of the biggest speaker manufacturers in the world, so you cannot make a mistake whichever model you choose.
