JBL Flip 5 vs. Flip 6: Is the New Version Improved?

With its upgraded look, feel and sound quality – plus a dust-proof rating for added protection – the new JBL Flip 6 has taken an already great portable Bluetooth speaker to another level. Boasting features like adjustable EQs and the same long battery life as its predecessor (Flip 5), this refreshed device will make waves in 2021!

The Flip 6 is an easy choice for its unrivaled features if you’re buying at full price. However, with a discounted Flip 5 model now available due to recent releases of the much-improved version (Flip 6), there’s no reason not to take advantage and score yourself a great deal on this already excellent speaker system!

Sound

With the Flip 6, JBL has improved on its already successful Bluetooth speaker formula. Alongside the 20-watt woofer and dual passive radiators that have become staples of both editions, they’ve added a separate 10-watt tweeter for even crisper sound than before. Party-goers need not worry, though. Despite its balanced profile allowing mids and highs to come through clearly, the bass is still present in just enough force to fill any room with energy!

Do you want to take your tunes with you on the go? The Flip 5 or 6 from JBL has got what it takes. Both these speakers are fantastic for their price range – under $150 and boasting above-average audio performance, even in a speaker smaller than a soda can!

But the biggest upgrade is the addition of an equalizer available through the app that lets you customize between 1 and 5 settings for bass, midrange and treble – giving users previously unseen control over sound quality. Whether it’s clarity or volume, subtlety smoothed out highs, get perfecting those sounds right here with one of these two incredible portable Bluetooth models today!

Design

The Flip 6 has undergone a major transformation from its predecessor, the uninspiring and utilitarian-looking Flip 5. The classic JBL logo is now clearly visible at a larger size—a stylish mark of sophistication that lends an extra layer of coolness to this already impressive speaker. Despite these updated aesthetics, it stays true to what made the original so popular: the same weight, dimensions and frequency response as before, with built-in radiators for booming sound quality!

With the Flip 6, you get a big upgrade in build quality with its robust and easy-to-hold design. As a bonus, a rubber stand on the base will keep your speaker securely stable – no extra strap is needed! With the newer Bluetooth 5.1 tech, making connections is simpler than ever. Plus, you can orient your speakers however works for you horizontally or vertically when perched atop their stylish bases!

Both speakers are quickly and conveniently charged via USB-C rather than micro-USB. Not to mention the buttons, which are large, tactile and easy enough for reliable use even in the dark! No need for a built-in microphone or aux port either; these handy gadgets have all you could ever want from a speaker.

Durability

The Flip 6 and the Flip 5 are both remarkably sturdy speakers. Although the IP67 rating on the newer model means it’s officially dust-proof, in reality, they’re actually quite similar – with an IPX7 rating for water protection, making them great choices if your environment has a lot of dirt or sand flying around.

They even boast impressive drop resistance! That said, you’ll want to be careful not to scratch either one as their exposed radiators can still get damaged. So while there is more room for scrapes due to its oversized JBL badge – no need to worry when picking up from higher surfaces, thanks to its rubber base stand providing extra stability.

Battery

Taking two of JBL’s most popular portable speakers, the Flip 5 and Flip 6, for a spin reveals an impressive performance – both featuring 4,800 mAh batteries that can keep you rocking up to 8 hours on moderate volume settings.

Of course, this runtime reduces when turned all the way up, absolutely cranking tunes at maximum – which is much louder than anyone needs anyway! While neither model comes equipped with power bank features like those seen in other models from JBL’s Charge series – rest assured these battery-powered beasts will still deliver full-throttle sound for many seasons yet to come.

Despite users wanting the newer generations of Flip to provide a power bank and improved battery life, JBL has maintained its lightweight design as well as packed in only 4,800 mAh batteries – much less than its predecessors. As such, it may be time for consumers looking for longer-lasting music streaming instead to opt for larger speakers like Charge 5 or Xtreme 3, which have more capacity without sacrificing portability.

Strangely enough, both Flips come with an unassuming indicator bar that will generate no interruption when your device is running low on charge, so you won’t experience any jarring “Low Battery” warnings!

Software

JBL’s Flip 5 and 6, the newest editions of their party speakers, are outfitted with simple but powerful features. With just a few taps in the JBL Portable app, you can check your remaining battery life or update firmware without any confusing settings to navigate through.

PartyBoost is even included for that extra fun boost! Despite occasional glitches, while updating firmware on either device, this efficient system generally won’t leave you stranded when planning ahead to make sure everything runs smoothly at those upcoming celebrations!

After countless user complaints, JBL finally gave their Flip 6 model the feature it had been missing – an equalizer! With this incredible upgrade, you can now adjust bass, mid and treble levels without needing a third-party app. Although there are no preloaded settings for particular genres of music or podcasts yet added to the EQ system so far (like hip hop or rock), your listening experience will still be improved greatly with these capabilities.

During testing, though, some concerning issues were found: one being that although battery life display was available on the accompanying mobile app – its readings tended to be inaccurate, showing 20% before running out completely while other times inaccurately displaying 0%.

Additionally frustratingly enough, even with such fantastic audio control options at hand through the new EQ slider, controlling song changes/volume has not become accessible within this app update either.

While there may be some competitors that offer a larger suite of features, the Flip 5 and 6 shine when it comes to reliable Bluetooth connections. Both models lack extra bells and whistles like built-in microphones or power banks, yet their straightforward design strongly appeals in terms of usability for everyday scenarios.

This makes up for what’s missing. Plus, with customizable EQ on the Flip 6, you’ll get dynamic sound quality explicitly tailored to your needs!

Final Thoughts

The JBL Flip 6 boasts some exciting new features that make it a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their sound experience. With an improved design, adjustable equalizer and more stable base than its predecessor – the already impressive Flip 5 – you may be able to find even greater savings on this reliable Bluetooth speaker.

Enjoy balanced and authentic sound quality from such a portable device at an unbeatable price!