Rough and tough soundbars from JBL are known to be best portable Bluetooth speakers in 2020. They are really a boon to hikers, campers and those who love poolside or beach parties. So after introduction of JBL Flip 5 last year I am tempted to check Is JBL Flip 5 worth buying? So in this article I have compared JBL Flip 5 Vs Flip 4 Vs Flip 3, so read till end to get your final call.
With introduction of upgrades JBL engineering has shown precise hunting of customer requirements.
Remember that the Flip 3 was splashproof and JBL engineers graduated to fully waterproof in the latest version!
as an example for hiker … What he needs is light weight in his backpack … So with Flip 5 you get 32% weight reduction alonwith all other improvements which is really great achievement.
or say for a person taking if for weekend fun (or frequent traveler) the USB-C charging magic makes you getting full battery charge in just 2.5 hours which is again 30% reduction in charging time. So again with high power battery and reduced weight Flip 5 does great job.
And for a poolside party, not only it maintains its status quo for waterproof rating, but also delivers 20% more sound power with increased diameter of drivers compared to its predecessor.
The fantabulous thing that I liked personally in Flip 5 is number of color choices and customization possibility … which makes it a perfect party speaker for me … Don’t forget the party mode where I can combine it with more speakers to get boom in party 🙂
Okay, so lets first go through simple table which is self explanatory for those who wish to get a glimpse of whats different in each version, and for those who need some details of comparison can continue reading the article even after the table 🙂
And at the end of the post I have my conclusion too for you.
JBL Flip 3 Vs Flip 4 Vs Flip 5 – Specifications & Features comparison table
| HowzBuy.com – Help You to Choose Better | |||
| Waterproof Soundbar Model |
JBL Flip 3 specs |
JBL Flip 4 specs |
JBL Flip 5 specs |
| Best Buy Discount offers |
JBL flip 3 Best Buy |
JBL flip 4 Best Buy |
JBL flip 5 Best Buy |
| Colour options | Black, Blue, Orange, Red, Pink, Yellow, Gray, Turquoise | Black, Blue, Camouflage, Gray, Red, Teal, White | White, Sand, Pink, Blue, Green, Mustered Yellow, Matte Black, Black Camo, Red, Teal, Squad, Grey, Design your own |
| Drivers | 2 x 40 mm | 44 mm x 80 mm | |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 4.1 A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2 | Bluetooth 4.2 A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2 | |
| Effective Range | 10 meters (33 feet) | ||
| Waterproof | SplashProof *Not Waterproof | IPX7 Waterproof | |
| Pairing | 3 Mobile Devices | 2 Mobile Devices | |
| Features | Noise & Echo Cancellation | ||
| Additional Features | JBL Connect *What does it lack ? | JBL Connect Plus | – Auto-power off – PartyBoost |
| 3.5 mm Jack | Yes | ||
| Working Time | Music & calls up to 10 hours (varies by volume level and audio content) | Music & calls up to 12 hours (varies by volume level and audio content) | |
| Standby Time | Usually the Battery won’t drain for days, If the Speakers are not used. | ||
| Battery Life Indicator | Yes, through the JBL Connect App | ||
| Output Power | 2 x 8W | 20W RMS | |
| Transducer | 2 x 40mm | 44 mm x 80 mm | |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | ≥80dB | ||
| Frequency Response | 85Hz – 20kHz | 70Hz – 20kHz | 65Hz – 20kHz |
| Battery | Lithium Ion Battery 3.7V, 3000 mAh | 4,800 mAh | |
| Micro-USB port | Yes | ||
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours @ 5V1A | 2.5 hours | |
| Operating Temp | -10°C to 60°C | ||
| Dimensions | 4.8 x 3.9 x 7.5 inches | 3.64 x 8.5 x 3.6 in | 7.1 x 2.7 x 2.9 inches |
| Weight | 1.55 lbs | 1.73lbs | 1.19 lbs |
| Manufacturer | JBL | ||
| Warranty | 30 days return policy | ||
| Download User Manual | JBL Flip 3 Manual PDF Download | JBL Flip 4 Manual PDF download | JBL Flip 5 Manual PDF download |
| Best Buy Discount offers | JBL flip 3 Best Buy | JBL flip 4 Best Buy | JBL flip 5 Best Buy |
My previous review on JBL Flip 3 vs Flip 4 Review – Worth Upgrade to Flip 4 ? [ in 2019] will provide you an idea of old versions – so here I will speak mainly what you will get in latest Flip5
JBL Flip 5 Vs Flip 4 Vs Flip 3 – Worth upgrade?
Design
In terms of looks Flip 5 is almost similar to Flip 4 or Flip 3.
However Flip 5 have grown slightly in size than its predecessor.
Obviously the bigger size has accommodated bigger battery and bigger diameter diaphragms too, delivering louder sound.
So if you are looking for better aesthetics, or contemporary design changes …. there is nothing new you will find in Flip 5 🙁
However one important thing in this latest design is Lower weight .. yes .. inspite of having larger dia drivers and powerful battery the weight is reduced substantially in Flip 5.
Is JBL Flip 5 waterproof?
Yes, inline with Flip 4, the latest JBL Flip 5 is fully waterproof.
Flip 5 uses a durable fabric material assisted with tough rubber that protects the exposed bass radiators.
What it means is that even submerged in water (upto 3 feet) you will not face any issues.
Read more on IPX rating and meaning on my article … IPX-ATM-Rating-meaning
that gives it an IPX7 rating, meaning: it can survive being submerged in up to three feet in water. On either end of the speaker is
Connectivity BT5.0?
Although Flip 5 have improved Bluetooth 4.2 protocol over 4.1 in Flip 3, I am surprised that they have not upgraded them-self to latest Bluetooth version 5.0, what it means is that still you will not get high quality codecs and high speeds or low latency! I am thoroughly disappointed due to this with JBL engineering 🙁
Speakerphone
Flip 5 has a built-in microphone for speakerphone calls …
Battery performance
Prior versions had same Lithium Ion Battery 3.7V, 3000 mAh
Whereas in latest Flip 5, you get 4800 mAh powerful Li-ion battery which delivers up to 12 hours of continuous playtime inspite of having larger diameter of drivers.
My recommendation
Shall I upgrade from Flip 4 to Flip 5?
If you ask me, looking at the upgrade features, it is really not necessary to upgrade from Flip 4 to Flip 5.
Only if you are a completely new buyer and looking for a shower speaker at affordable price, then its worth going for Flip 5 speaker.
Buying Flip 5 as first speaker … Yes … If you are looking for best bluetooth speaker under $100 then Flip 5 is the best choice …
Buying Flip 5 as a first speaker means you get somewhat future-proof your purchase.
If you love going outdoors, hiking, camping, or love beach trips the Flip series has always been a great companion and that remains true with the latest Flip 5.
Whats improved in Flip 5 compared to Flip 4?
- Flip 5 is 32% lighter in weight than Flip 4
- USB-C charging – full battery charge in just 2.5 hours which is again 30% reduction in charging time.
- Delivers 20% more sound power with increased diameter of drivers compared to Flip 4.
- Flip 5 is number of color choices and customization possibility …
So finally I have added a info-graphics which gives the same comparison table for your quick reference …
