JBL is on a quest to build the perfect speaker. It’s an impossible quest, of course, but every iteration, it seems to inch ever closer to the finish line. Case in point, the JBL Flip 7. At first glance, it’s a run-of-the-mill speaker. But not only is it lighter than its predecessor, it’s more durable, with more powerful bass and redesigned tweeters. The result is a speaker that punches well above its weight class, pumping out loud, clear audio that rivals devices twice its price point.
There are a couple of flies in the ointment, such as weak bass on some songs. And the speaker can move on its own when belting out the tunes if it isn’t positioned properly. But for the mid-tier price of $130, the JBL Flip 7 will be sitting on quite a few best Bluetooth speakers lists this year.
Pricing and Availability
You can pre-order the Flip 7 for $150 on JBL’s website with an expected ship date of April 6. The pricing is competitive and puts it in line with the Bose Soundlink Flex (2nd Gen) ($150), the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 ($130), and the Beats Pill ($130).
JBL Flip 7
The JBL Flip 7 squeezes premium sound into a compact, durable shell
Pros
- Lightweight, super durable design
- Powerful audio despite its size
- Great battery life
- Unlimited audio share with Auracast
Cons
- Bass can be hollow on some songs
- Speaker can move if not properly positioned
Design
Speakers like the Flip 7 are practically begging to be the star of your next picnic, beach romp, or cookout. To that end, JBL made the potent portable pretty darned tough. Not only is the Flip 7 waterproof (30 minutes in 1 meter [3 feet] of freshwater), the IP68 certified speaker is also dust and drop-proof (up to 1 meter on concrete or hardwood). That rating makes the Flip 7 one of the most durable portable speakers available, so you best believe it can withstand a few bruises and scrapes.
When it launches, the Flip 7 will be available in six colorways (white, black, purple, camo, red, and blue). JBL sent us the white version of the speaker, which is a bit tame for my tastes, but it’ll still look good no matter the setting. Most of the speaker’s exterior is made of a grayish-white fabric that’s 100% recycled. The plastic parts of the exterior and some of the speaker’s interior are made of 75% post-consumer recycled plastic. The Flip 7’s endcaps are silvery white with a metallic exclamation point in the center. The JBL logo is the only other metallic component on the speaker. The silver emblem, outlined in red, sits front and center, proudly on display.
Buttons for volume and play/pause sit at the top of the speaker, protruding ever so slightly out of the fabric lining. There’s a small console directly behind that holds the power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons. Look a little farther back on the speaker and you’ll find the USB-C charging port next to the a gray lanyard that can be exchanged for a carabiner via JBL’s new PushLock system. It’s pretty straightforward. Just push and hold the gray button to release whatever is currently attached (in this case, the gray lanyard), slide whatever accessory you want in via the metal clasp, and release the button. I vigorously swung the speaker around with both the lanyard and the carabiner, and both held firm.
I tossed the 19.68-pound, 7.2 x 2.7 x 2.6-inch Flip 7 into my bookbag, where it quickly became an afterthought. It’s much lighter than the Boom 2 (11.7 x 7.3 x 3.95 inches) at 58.4 ounces, and The Pill (8.6 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches) and Soundlink Flex (2.1 H x 7.9 W x 3.56 inches) were also heavier, at 24 and 20.8 ounces, respectively. The Flip is only slightly heavier than its predecessor at 19.36 ounces, but it’s also slightly bigger than the Flip 6, which measured 7 x 2.6 x 2.8 inches.
Features
Any features the Flip 7 has are accessed via the free JBL Portable app. It’s light on features compared to other companion apps. You get an equalizer with four presets, plus the ability to create your own sound with the custom option. JBL Portable is also where you’ll interact with PlaytimeBoost, a feature that extends the speaker’s battery life by disabling the EQ while boosting volume.
The Flip 7 is also one of the latest devices to tout Auracast technology, a new way to share audio across devices. Comprised of transmitters, receivers, and assistants, Auracast devices can share audio with an unlimited number of in-range compatible devices. Think of it like AM or FM radio, but for Bluetooth. With Auracast, the Flip 7 can connect with another Flip 7 to create a wider stereo soundstage with the PartyTogether feature. When the feature is simultaneously broadcasting a playlist to unlimited Auracast-enabled receivers. I discovered that you can do a bit of mix and match, as I successfully bridged the Flip 7 and Charge 6 using PartyTogether.
Performance
Whatever you do, don’t underestimate the power of this speaker. When the moment of truth came, and I cranked the Flip 7 to max volume and started streaming music, it knocked me for the proverbial loop. You really have to hear to believe the amount of knock this slim cylinder pumps out. JBL upgraded the bass and gave the tweeter dome a redesign that definitely make a difference. Combine that with AI Boost, JBL’s proprietary tech which the company says analyzes your music in real time to deliver the optimal performance with the least amount of distortion.
I spent two hours listening to different genres of music (Hip-Hop, Rock, R&B, Country, Jazz, Alternative, etc.), and I have to say I was seriously impressed. It was fun watching the endcaps vibrate with all that air being pushed through bass radiators. Just be sure to position the speaker so it’s standing on its tiny foot. Otherwise, all that vibration will move the speaker out of its original position.
There were a few cases of mild distortion; the upper chords of Diane Krall’s Live cover of “Fly Me To The Moon” was brighter than I like. And while you’ll definitely get deep bass on most tracks, on songs like Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up,” the low end felt hollow. But man, nine times out of ten, the Flip 7 was on point with a generous soundstage with clean balanced audio. I felt like I was center stage partaking in Santana’s scintillating electric guitar as I listened to “Europa (Earth’s Song).” And while there is an electric guitar in Amethyst Kiah’s “Black Myself,” I had no problem hearing the twanging strings of the acoustic guitar.
Another thing to note is the lack of a sweet spot. No matter where I positioned myself in my living room in relation to the Flip 7, there was never a point that I wasn’t getting a full soundstage. And although the app offers several EQ presets, most listeners will be fine with the default JBL Signature setting.
Battery life
According to JBL, you can squeeze about 14 hours of music playback out of the Flip 7’s 4,800mAh battery. You can get an additional two hours of charge if you enable PlaytimeBoost. This feature boosts the volume but saves battery life by disabling the equalizer. It’s a cool feature for those looking to party until the cows come home. And for those looking to party right out the box, you’ll be pleased to learn the Flip 7 shipped with 70% battery life.
I streamed my main Spotify playlist, which has 335 hours and 42 minutes of music to the Flip 7 at 50% volume. The speaker lasted 13 hours and 29 minutes without the PlaytimeBoost enabled.
Verdict
You review enough products for enough years and you run the risk of becoming jaded. And then you come across something like the JBL Flip 7. At first glance, it looks like most portable Bluetooth speakers on the market. But look beyond its fabric shell and you’ve got a speaker that punches well above its price point. It’s one of the most durable Bluetooth speakers on the market and uses a fair amount of sustainable materials.
And while that’s all well and dandy, it’s the sound that makes the Flip 7 a winner. Seriously, something this compact has no business delivering audio that full or loud. Sure, you’ll encounter a little distortion on some songs and weak bass. But with the redesigned tweeter domes, upgraded bass, and JBL’s proprietary AI Boost technology, those moments are few and far between. Instead, the Flip 7 produces a warm, vibrant audio with a generous soundstage with over 13 hours of battery life. And if you need even more party time, enable PlaytimeBoost to add two additional hours to ensure the party doesn’t stop until you’re good and ready. Overall, the JBL Flip 7 is a fantastic Bluetooth speaker that offers premium sound at a mid-tier price.
