Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The compact design mean that the bass output could be a little firm , but the updated Flip 7 can still match its backpack - sized rivals for sound character . Throw in a rugged , piddle - resistant design and both Bluetooth and USB for wired audio frequency , and this lightweight speaker can really earn its keep when you ’re outside this summer .
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Best Prices Today: JBL Flip 7
With summer fast approaching , JBL recently updated several of its portable Bluetooth speaker , but the one that really caught our eye was the rugged and backpack - well-disposed design of the new Flip 7 . Priced at just $ 149.95/£129.99 , and available in a variety of colors , the Flip 7 is clearly a direct competitor for the recently released Beats Pill , but it supervise to outdo its Beats rival in a numeral of ways .
For starters , the updated Flip 7 now gas a seriously rugged IP68 rating for resistance to water supply and dust – equate to IP67 for the Beats Pill – which earmark it to outlast complete immersion in 1.5 MiB of water for up to 30 second . JBL says that it ’s ‘ drop cloth - validation ’ too , thanks to a shock - resistant synthetic rubber trim that can survive a pearl of 1 one thousand correct onto a concrete storey . But while it ’s built like a tank car , the Flip 7 is still very light and portable . It put up 182 millimetre high , 69.5 millimeter wide and 71.5 millimetre mysterious – although you may also turn it onto its side it you opt – and weighs just 0.56 kg , so it ’s easygoing to slip it into a back pack or pocketbook and hold it around when you ’re travelling . JBL also includes a wrist - shoulder strap and carabiner clip , which you could take away and swap around as required , to serve keep it dependable .
The Flip 7 defend the latest Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless audio , and the USB - degree Celsius porthole on the back of the speaker can also be used to provide a wired audio connectedness , as well as charging the internal barrage . There ’s no USB - cytosine cablegram included though , as JBL is trying to turn off down on its use of plastic , so you ’ll need to provide the cable yourself .
It does n’t support Wi - Fi or AirPlay for Apple devices – as Sonos ’ equally portable Roam speaker does – but that ’s a batch to ask from such an affordable speaker . And , of class , Wi - Fi financial backing would n’t be much economic consumption for a utterer that is clearly intend to populate outdoors most of the time . Some masses may be disappoint that the Flip 7 does n’t support the aptX codec for Bluetooth audio , but it does back up Apple ’s AAC codec for manipulation with Macs , iPhones and iPads .
Sound quality
healthy quality is impressive for such a stocky speaker , thanks to an 80 millimeter woofer and 16 mm tweeter that coalesce to allow for a healthy 35W output signal . If you want to chill out on a work-shy summertime afternoon then the Flip shows a delicate touch on the piano - and - violin duette on Arvo Pärt ’s Spiegel I m Spiegel , allowing the wistful melodies of the two instruments to gracefully tissue through the air . But crank up the book at political party - prison term and the Flip 7 can blast out the arm - waving Planetary Go ! by My Chemical Romance with real zest . It ’s a busy track , with headbanging guitars colliding with EDM keyboards , but the Flip 7 continue all the instrument clear and trenchant while the unwavering thud of the drum adjudge the sonic bedlam together . It ’s pretty potent too , and just 50 % book is meretricious enough to have me worried about annoying the neighbor , so it ’ll be bully for get thing go when you ’re outdoors with your friends .
Inevitably , the principal weakness with a speaker of this sizing is the basso output , and the bounce electronic bass on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish does n’t quite have the firm kick that a larger speaker could offer . Even so , the bass is still jolly respectable for such a succinct loudspeaker , and the sound timbre of the Flip 7 is more than a catch for rival such as the Sonos Roam or Beats Pill . The JBL Portable app also include an equaliser that lets you fine - tune the sound to suit your perceptiveness , as well as an choice for linking it with a second Flip to provide two - epithelial duct stereo audio .
The one area where the Beats speaker has an bound is with its 24 - hour barrage life . The Flip 7 ’s 14 - 60 minutes electric battery is for sure enough to last all day long , and the JBL app allow an option called ‘ playtime boost ’ that adjusts the profound output to squeeze an extra two hours out of the battery ( although this does require the app to de - aerate your EQ circumstance ) . The Pill might be the good option if you ’re design on rant for an entire weekend at a music festival , but the light and more compendious Flip has an edge on sheer portability .
Should I buy the JBL Flip 7?
Portable loudspeaker always have to find the right-hand balance between size , level-headed quality and barrage living , and a tumid speaker such as the Beats Pill can surely provide longer battery life . However , the Flip 7 strike a skilful all - stave balance , providing first-class sound quality , good battery liveliness , and a sturdy , lightweight design at a very competitive cost .
See how the JBL Flip 7 compares to other iPhone loudspeaker we have test : Best AirPlay speakers for iPhones and Apple Music .
