Bluetooth speakers have never been more prevalent in our homes or at social gatherings. Driver-bearing cylinders, oblongs and cuboids now jump from concept, to factory lines, to our laps with increasing regularity – and ever more impressive spec sheets. JBL Flip 5 is another step forward in the field of loudspeakers. Here we check it in detail.
Technical Sheet of JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
| Food | Drums |
| Power | 20 W |
| Theoretical autonomy | 12 h |
| Connections | Bluetooth 4.2 |
Decent sound
The JBL Flip 5 impressed in the test with a good sound, especially for its size. The space suffers from the front-facing driver, but the sound quality was still good in the test. The inconspicuous loudspeaker offers a voluminous and rich sound, which plays with a good bass and a snappy height display. We also like the voice representation, we missed some presence here. Overall, however, the JBL Flip 5 is fun. Due to the centrality and the directed exit, the Flip 5 should be directed towards the listener. Of course, the sound of the mobile Bluetooth speaker cannot compete with its much larger colleagues like the JBL Xtreme 2, but it is much smaller and lighter.
Reduced equipment
The equipment is probably the biggest disappointment in the fifth generation of the Flip series. JBL not only does without the classic AUX connection for wired music listening, the hands-free function for calls and the Connect + feature have also been deleted. At least for the latter there is a replacement in the form of the new “PartyBoost” function.
As before, this feature can be used to connect additional JBL loudspeakers, whereby the new technology severely limits the compatibility, as only models with “PartyBoost” support can be used. The JBL Flip 4 cannot be used together with its successor, for example.
The classic buttons for controlling playback as well as the coupling and “PartyBoost” mode are located on the rubber housing of the JBL Flip 5. The box is charged via the supplied USB-C cable.
Good for on the go
Thanks to its relatively small dimensions and low weight, the JBL Flip 5 is designed for mobile transport and outdoor use. Its dimensions are around 18 x 7 x 7.4 cm (WxDxH), while the weight is around 540 grams – it is therefore not too much of a burden in a backpack. This makes the Bluetooth box one of the lighter models on our list of the best. Of course, high mobility also requires a long-lasting battery.
With a capacity of 4,800 mAh, this ensures a runtime of 09:31 hours at a volume of 75 dB for the Flip 5 in the test. The charging time of 3:50 hours is a bit long, but at least the runtime is quite impressive for the size of the speaker.
Anyone planning to take the Flip 5 with them to the lake or to operate it in the rain is protected from possible damage with the IPX7 protection – the manufacturer promises a water resistance of up to one meter in water.
JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Conclusion
Positives of JBL Flip 5
- Solid sound for the size
- Good battery life
- Stable design
Negatives of JBL Flip 5
- Somewhat stripped down equipment
- PartyBoost only compatible with a few devices
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