Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Sturdy, water resistant design
- Robust sound high quality
- USB-C offers wired audio
Cons
- No Wi-Fi or AirPlay
- Bass could possibly be firmer
- No charging cable included
Our Verdict
The compact design signifies that the bass output could possibly be just a little firmer, however the up to date Flip 7 can nonetheless match its backpack-sized rivals for sound high quality. Throw in a rugged, water resistant design and each Bluetooth and USB for wired audio, and this light-weight speaker can actually earn its maintain while you’re outside this summer time.
Value When Reviewed
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Greatest Pricing Right now
Value When Reviewed
$149.95
Greatest Costs Right now: JBL Flip 7
With summer time quick approaching, JBL lately up to date a number of of its transportable Bluetooth audio system, however the one that actually caught our eye was the rugged and backpack-friendly design of the brand new Flip 7. Priced at simply $149.95/£129.99, and accessible in quite a lot of colors, the Flip 7 is clearly a direct competitor for the lately launched Beats Tablet, but it surely manages to outdo its Beats rival in various methods.
For starters, the up to date Flip 7 now boasts a critically rugged IP68 score for resistance to water and dirt – in comparison with IP67 for the Beats Tablet – which permits it to outlive full immersion in 1.5m of water for as much as half-hour. JBL says that it’s ‘drop-proof’ too, because of a shock-resistant rubber trim that may survive a drop of 1m proper onto a concrete flooring. However whereas it’s constructed like a tank, the Flip 7 remains to be very mild and transportable. It stands 182mm excessive, 69.5mm vast and 71.5mm deep – though you can even flip it onto its aspect it you like – and weighs simply 0.56kg, so it’s straightforward to slide it right into a backpack or bag and carry it round while you’re travelling. JBL additionally features a wrist-strap and carabiner clip, which you’ll be able to take away and swap round as required, to assist maintain it protected.
The Flip 7 helps the most recent Bluetooth 5.4 for wi-fi audio, and the USB-C port on the again of the speaker will also be used to supply a wired audio connection, in addition to charging the interior battery. There’s no USB-C cable included although, as JBL is attempting to chop down on its use of plastics, so that you’ll want to supply the cable your self.
It doesn’t help Wi-Fi or AirPlay for Apple units – as Sonos’ equally transportable Roam speaker does – however that’s quite a bit to ask from such an inexpensive speaker. And, in fact, Wi-Fi help wouldn’t be a lot use for a speaker that’s clearly meant to dwell outside more often than not. Some individuals could also be upset that the Flip 7 doesn’t help the aptX codec for Bluetooth audio, but it surely does help Apple’s AAC codec to be used with Macs, iPhones and iPads.
Sound high quality
Sound high quality is spectacular for such a compact speaker, because of an 80mm woofer and 16mm tweeter that mix to supply a wholesome 35W output. If you wish to sit back on a lazy summer time afternoon then the Flip exhibits a fragile contact on the piano-and-violin duet on Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel Im Spiegel, permitting the wistful melodies of the 2 devices to gracefully weave by means of the air. However crank up the quantity at party-time and the Flip 7 can blast out the arm-waving Planetary Go! by My Chemical Romance with actual gusto. It’s a busy observe, with headbanging guitars colliding with EDM keyboards, however the Flip 7 retains all of the devices clear and distinct whereas the agency thud of the drums holds the sonic chaos collectively. It’s fairly highly effective too, and simply 50% quantity is loud sufficient to have me fearful about annoying the neighbours, so it’ll be nice for getting issues going while you’re outside with your mates.
Inevitably, the primary weak spot with a speaker of this dimension is the bass output, and the bouncing digital bass on Unhealthy Man by Billie Eilish doesn’t fairly have the agency kick {that a} bigger speaker may present. Even so, the bass remains to be fairly respectable for such a compact speaker, and the sound high quality of the Flip 7 is greater than a match for rivals such because the Sonos Roam or Beats Tablet. The JBL Moveable app additionally consists of an equalizer that allows you to fine-tune the sound to fit your style, in addition to an choice for linking it with a second Flip to supply two-channel stereo audio.
The one space the place the Beats speaker has an edge is with its 24-hour battery life. The Flip 7’s 14-hour battery is definitely sufficient to final all day lengthy, and the JBL app offers an choice referred to as ‘playtime increase’ that adjusts the sound output to squeeze an additional two hours out of the battery (though this does require the app to de-activate your EQ settings). The Tablet could be the higher choice should you’re planning on raving for a complete weekend at a music pageant, however the lighter and extra compact Flip has an edge on sheer portability.
Ought to I purchase the JBL Flip 7?
Moveable audio system at all times have to search out the suitable steadiness between dimension, sound high quality and battery life, and a bigger speaker such because the Beats Tablet can definitely present longer battery life. Nevertheless, the Flip 7 strikes a very good all-round steadiness, offering wonderful sound high quality, good battery life, and a sturdy, light-weight design at a really aggressive value.
See how the JBL Flip 7 compares to different iPhone audio system we’ve got examined: Greatest AirPlay audio system for iPhones and Apple Music.
