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JBL Flip 5 · JBL — official press photograph; 326488-JBL_Flip5_Product Photo_Hero_Forest Green-396d58-original-1565287524.jpg

JBL Flip 5
Photo 1 of 52

JBL Flip 5 · JBL — official press photograph; 326488-JBL_Flip5_Product Photo_Hero_Forest Green-396d58-original-1565287524.jpg

JBL

Flip 5

Released August 2019

A compact waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a single racetrack driver, USB-C charging and PartyBoost linking.

Model history · 2 models, 2017–2019
  1. 2017Flip 4Compare
  2. 2019Flip 5
Type
Portable speaker
Atmos
No
Connects by
Bluetooth
Battery
12 h
Weight
0.54 kg

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the compact, rugged design and easy operation. TechRadar finds detailed, engaging sound; SoundGuys hears stronger bass but less clear mids and highs. SoundGuys also records shorter endurance than claimed and occasional connection glitches. Both criticise the missing microphone and wired input, while SoundGuys finds little reason for Flip 4 owners to upgrade.

From techradar.com and soundguys.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type
Portable speaker
Dolby Atmos
No
Drivers
One 44 × 80 mm racetrack driver and two passive radiators (radiators confirmed by TechRadar)
Amplifiers
20 W RMS
Frequency response
65 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB

Connections

Wi-Fi
No
Bluetooth
Yes
AirPlay
No
Voice assistants
None
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6
Ports
USB-C charging only; no 3.5 mm audio input or USB power-bank output (TechRadar and SoundGuys)
Multi-room
PartyBoost pairs two compatible speakers for stereo or links multiple compatible speakers; cannot link with a Flip 4 using Connect+ (SoundGuys)

Design

Battery life (maker's claim)
Up to 12 hours
Water and dust resistance
IPX7
Weight
0.54 kg
Battery life detail
Up to 12 hours depending on volume and content; 17.28 Wh (3.6 V, 4,800 mAh) lithium-ion polymer battery; 2.5 hours to charge at 5 V / 3 A. The specification table gives up to 12 hours despite the same sheet's more-than-12-hour prose.
Controls
Power, Bluetooth pairing, volume, play/pause and PartyBoost buttons; double-press play to skip a track (SoundGuys)
Microphones
No microphone for calls or voice-assistant integration (TechRadar and SoundGuys)
Size
181 × 74 × 69 mm (W × H × D), following the maker's W × D × H specification
Colours
Desert Sand, Mustard Yellow, Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White, Forest Green and Squad; some colours followed in September or October 2019
In the box
Flip 5, USB-C cable, quick start guide, warranty card and safety sheet

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Up to 12 hours of playback
  • USB-C charging takes 2.5 hours
  • PartyBoost supports stereo pairing with a second compatible speaker

Cons

  • No microphone or 3.5 mm audio input
  • No Wi-Fi or AirPlay
  • Cannot link with a Flip 4 using Connect+

Closest rivals

Model
TypeAtmosConnects byBatteryWeightReleased
Bang & OlufsenBeosound A1 2nd Gen
Portable speakerNoBluetooth18 h0.558 kgMay 2020
Ultimate EarsBOOM 3
Portable speakerNoBluetooth15 h0.608 kg2018
Bang & OlufsenBeosound Explore
Portable speakerNoBluetooth27 h0.631 kgMay 2021

Previous model: Flip 4. Newer model: Flip 6.

Sources

  1. uk.jbl.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_Harman/default/dwb6c9ca5f…
  2. news.jbl.com/en-GB/181376-crank-the-music-up-jbl-flip-5-is-here
  3. news.harman.com/releases/releases-20181231-6736936
  4. techradar.com/reviews/jbl-flip-5
  5. soundguys.com/jbl-flip-5-review-32589

Photo: JBL — official press photograph; 326488-JBL_Flip5_Product Photo_Hero_Forest Green-396d58-original-1565287524.jpg

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