Home / Audio / Speakers

After Years, JBL Finally Upgrades Its Popular Portable Bluetooth Speakers

In the market for an affordable and highly portable Bluetooth speaker?

JBL Flip 7 portable speakerJBL

By Tucker Bowe

Published

·

Updated

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

JBL is a heritage American loudspeaker manufacturer brand with a history dating back to the mid-1940s. These days, it’s one of the biggest names in portable Bluetooth speakers, too.

Of the many portable Bluetooth speakers that JBL makes, its Flip and Charge lines are two of its most popular. Both speakers are relatively small, super rugged and, costing $200 or less, fairly affordable.

As of this week, JBL just gave each of its Flip and Charge lines a next-gen update.

JBL Flip 7

JBL Flip 7 portable speaker
JBL’s previous Flip speaker, the Flip 6, was released in 2021.
JBL

The JBL Flip 7 is the smaller and more affordable of the new portable Bluetooth speakers. It looks mostly the same as its predecessor, the 2021-released Flip 6, but JBL gave it a number of under-the-hood upgrades.

The most notable changes have to do with its durability and battery life — two of the most essential features when shopping for a portable Bluetooth speaker. The Flip 7 now has an IP68 rating and promises to get up to 14 hours on a single charge, a slight upgrade over the Flip 6’s IP67 rating and 12-hour battery life.

JBL Flip 7 portable speaker
The Flip 7 boasts improved sound, increased durability and longer battery life.
JBL

JBL has given the Flip 7 a big acoustic upgrade, too. It features a new-and-improved tweeter and supports JBL’s AI Sound Boost, a technology that JBL has featured in its higher-end speakers that leverages AI to maximize sound quality while limiting distortion.

Additionally, the Flip 7 can play high-resolution audio over a wired connection (via its USB-C input). And it supports Auracast, a next-gen audio-sharing feature that works over Bluetooth.

JBL Charge 6

JBL Charge 5 portable speaker
The Charge 6 comes with a detachable hand strap for easier carry.
JBL

JBL gave the Charge 6 a similar next-gen update over its 2021-released predecessor, the Charge 5. It looks mostly the same — save for a new detachable handle strap — but has upgraded internals and new features.

The Charge 6 has an upgraded woofer that JBL promises will deliver deeper bass. Like the Flip 7, the Charge 6 supports AI Sound Boost technology, high-resolution audio over USB-C and supports Auracast.

JBL Charge 5 portable speaker
The Charge 6 comes in six different colors.
JBL

Additionally, the Charge 6 has an IP68 rating, putting it among the most durable portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy. And it has a 28-hour battery life, a four-hour upgrade from the Charge 5.

Price and availability

Both of JBL’s newest speakers, the Flip 7 and Charge 6, are now available for preorder on the company’s website. They are expected to ship starting on April 6th.

The Flip 7 and the Charge 6 cost $150 and $200, respectively. Both come in the same six finishes: black, blue, white, red, camo, and purple.

Read More