JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 6: Is The Flip 6 A Valid Upgrade?

The Flip 6 offers more value with many improvements

The Flip series of Bluetooth speakers is arguably JBL’s most popular. Larger than the likes of the Go and Clip series, but smaller than the Charge and Xtreme, it strikes a balance between volume, features, and portability. The JBL Flip is an everyday Bluetooth speaker for casual music lovers who want music on the go, or for use around their home. The Flip 6 is the latest in the series, but the Flip 5 can now be frequently found on the second-hand market or at discount prices. So which speaker is worth buying? Should you consider upgrading to the Flip 6 if you already have the 5? This comparison article will help you decide what’s best for you.

JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Flip 6 Specs

Model	Flip 5	Flip 6
Water Resistance	IPX7	IP67
Output Power	20W	30W
Bluetooth Version	4.2	5.1
Bluetooth Profiles	A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6	A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6
Battery Life	Up to 12 Hours	Up to 12 Hours
Charging Time	2.5 Hours	2.5 Hours
Frequency Response	65 Hz to 20 kHz	63 Hz to 20 kHz
Multispeaker Pairing	Yes (Up to 2 speakers)	Yes (Up to 2 speakers)
Weight	1.2 lbs	1.2 lbs
Dimensions	7.1 x 2.9 x 2.7″	7 x 2.6 x 2.8″
App Support	JBL Portable	JBL Portable
Price	Check Price	Check Price

Design, Build, & Durability

The JBL Flip 5 and 6 share extremely similar designs, with only subtle changes between the two models. The Flip 6 adopts JBL’s more prominent branding while retaining the same general form factor and use of materials. The Flip 6 is more durable though, owing to the addition of a dust protection rating.

Durability

Winner: Tied

As with many of JBL’s newer releases, the Flip 5 and 6 both have a fabric-wrapped shell that protects them from getting scratched, along with rubber ends along the edge of the reflex ports. The Flip 5 has IPX7 which offers comprehensive water resistance and protects it from rain, splashes, sprays, and submergence in water of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The Flip 6 is rated slightly higher, with an IP67 rating. An IP67 rating adopts the same water protection as the Flip 5 but adds dust protection too.

The durability of these speakers is impressive on both counts, particularly when it comes to scratches and dirt. Because they are thoroughly waterproof, any dirt that does collect on the exterior can be washed off with a pressure hose in no time.

Portability

Winner: Tied

The Flip 5 and 6 are relatively small, compact Bluetooth speakers that can be carried in one hand. They weigh 1.2 lbs and have dimensions of 7.1 x 2.9 x 2.7″ and 7 x 2.6 x 2.8″, respectively. This makes both speakers great for taking with you on road trips, to college, or between rooms in your home. Both speakers also come with a carry loop, which can add extra protection when carrying it, or allow it to be attached to objects when paired with a carabiner. Both speakers are equally portable.

Lighting Effects

Winner: Tied

Neither speaker has built-in lights, instead focusing on durability and practicality. The only LED light on the Flip 5 or 6, is the pairing indicator.

Controls, Connectivity & App Support

The numbers don’t tell the full story here. The Flip 6 on paper has better Bluetooth, and while this is true in the sense that it can stream higher-quality audio files, the Flip 5 has slightly better latency than the Flip 6. Both speakers lack any physical inputs or outputs, meaning you can only use these speakers wirelessly. The companion app only supports graphic EQ with the Flip 6 and feels very bare on the Flip 5.

Inputs & Outputs

Winner: Tied

The Flip 5 and Flip 6 are relatively barebone speakers, built to remain affordable and durable, instead. The Flip 5 dropped the auxiliary input found on the previous Flip 4, and with the Flip 6’s absence of aux, it’s likely something we’ll see missing from future Flips too. The only port you’ll find on either speaker is the USB-C charging port.

Controls

Winner: Tied

Both speakers feature the following buttons:

• Volume up
• Volume down
• Bluetooth pairing
• Power on/off
• Play/Pause (Track skip forward)
• Group pairing

They also have the same general button layout, which places the buttons off to the speaker’s side and not directly above it when the speaker is laid down. This can make it difficult to see the controls and requires the speaker to be turned around to face the listener every time a button is pressed, especially when the Flip is near eye level.

Bluetooth

Winner: Tied

The Flip 6 supports Bluetooth 5.1 while the Flip 5 uses the older Bluetooth 4.2. The Flip 5’s latency is slightly better than that of the Flip 6, but the Flip 6’s newer codecs support higher-quality audio. Casual listeners aren’t likely to notice the difference between the Bluetooth on either device.

App Support

Winner: Flip 6

Both Flips support the JBL Portable mobile app, which is available for both Apple and Android users. The app has additional functionality for the Flip 6, with a graphic EQ that lets you dial the sound of the Flip 6 to your preferences. Keep in mind that the EQ in companion apps isn’t inherently better than using a third-party EQ app, they achieve the same thing, it’s just a matter of convenience.

Audio Performance

The Flip 6 is a better-sounding speaker than the Flip 5. It has 10W of extra power and can reach close to 90 dB of volume. It has the benefit of a separate tweeter which improves soundstage and dynamics, while a slightly deeper frequency response range gives it a bit more low bass than the Flip 5.

Frequency Response

Winner: Flip 6

Frequency response is better on the Flip 6, it has a more balanced sound out of the box and if you want to adjust its profile, you can use the companion EQ. It has a slightly deeper bass extension than the Flip 5 too, meaning more deep bass, in part because of its broader response range.

Because the Flip 6 has a dedicated tweeter, while the Flip 5 only has a full range 44mm driver, it allows the Flip 6 to produce more detailed highs, which create more nuance. The highs are also more prominent than with the Flip 5, which has somewhat recessed highs that lack detail.

Soundstage & Dynamics

Winner: Flip 6

Soundstage can be thought of as how realistic the sound is. Speakers with great soundstage allow the listener to identify the location of the instruments in the mix. The Flip 6 has several advantages with soundstage and dynamics over the Flip 5. The soundstage is slightly better on Flip 6 because it has a separate tweeter, which the Flip 5 doesn’t. This makes the separation sound better in the Flip 6 and adds a bit more width to the speaker.

Similarly, the dynamics on the Flip 6 are better than the Flip 5 but also aren’t particularly great compared to other speakers, like the larger Charge 5. The improvements to dynamics on the Flip 6 are most noticeable when pushing the volume up. The Flip 6 retains better clarity at higher volume. Dynamics refers to subtle differences in volume across frequencies and also assists in creating a more lifelike experience, similar to what you get when you listen to a live band and can hear the subtle decay of the crash for example.

Volume

Winner: Flip 6

So which is louder, the Flip 5 or Flip 6?

The Flip 6 is about 1.5 dB louder than the Flip 5. During our tests, we measured 86.8 dB from the Flip 5 and 88.3 dB on the Flip 6 at a distance of 1 meter. This is enough volume to fill a small room and is suitable for casual listening or small groups of friends or family.

Battery Performance

Winner: Flip 5

The Flip 5 has an advantage over the Flip 6 when it comes to battery life. Both speakers are rated for up to 12 hours of playtime, but both fell short of this during our tests. The Flip 5 lasts for nearly 9 hours at 50% volume while the Flip 6 lasted just over 8 hours. The charging time for both speakers is around 2.5 hours, meaning they can quickly be recharged should you run out of battery.

Price & Value

The Flip 5 is available for around $90 retail at the moment, while the Flip 6 retails for closer to $130. This is a substantial difference, and with so few differences between each speaker, there is an argument to be made for both.

If you’re a casual music listener the Flip 5 is great value for money, it does almost everything the Flip 6 can do and even surpasses it in battery performance. However, the Flip 6’s improved sound quality and increased volume make it a distinctly better speaker. If you’re looking for the best sound quality between these two speakers, go for the Flip 6.

Conclusion

The JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 are very similar speakers. They have the same general build, offer the same controls, and reach similar volume levels. The Flip 6 is overall the better speaker, offering improved sound quality, more durability, and Bluetooth codecs that support higher-quality audio streaming.