JBL Flip 6 Review: Design, Sound, and Features
If you’re in the market for a new portable Bluetooth speaker, then the JBL Flip 6 is a strong contender. It has been on the market for a couple of weeks now and it is already receiving high praise. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the design, sound quality, and features of this speaker to help you decide if it’s worth the investment.
Design
The JBL Flip 6 has similar dimensions to its predecessor, the Flip 5, at 178 by 68 by 72mm, making it easy to carry around in your bag. It weighs around 500 grams, which is also convenient for on-the-go use. The most notable change in design is the new JBL logo, which looks more modern and sleek. The area around the logo has less plastic and a piece of rubber to keep it in place. The power and Bluetooth buttons are located around this area, and there is a line connecting the mesh. The USB-C port is still present, but it now has an alert that warns you if there’s anything inside that could damage the speaker. The battery level is also displayed here, and the strap has been improved with a modern touch.
You can choose from a variety of colors on Amazon, including White, Black, Green, Pink, Aqua Green, Blue, Camouflage, Grey, and Red. The JBL Flip 6 has an IP67 rating, which means it’s waterproof, able to be submerged in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes, and fully dustproof.
Features
One of the most significant upgrades of the JBL Flip 6 is its Bluetooth 5.1 technology, which makes it more future-proof and provides a distance of about 40 meters from the source before losing the signal. You can also connect two devices with it simultaneously, which is helpful for playing from a laptop or two different phones. Additionally, the party boost feature allows you to connect up to 100 speakers, but it’s not compatible with the old connect+ technology, meaning your old Flip 4 and 3 won’t be able to connect to the Flip 5, 6, or other party boost compatible speakers.
Sound Quality
Now let’s talk about the most critical aspect of any speaker: the sound quality. The JBL Flip 6 has a racetrack-shaped driver of 20W and an added tweeter of 10W, making for a total output of 30W. You can also use the JBL app to tweak the treble, middle, and bass settings. These settings work on the Flip 6 and with a new firmware update on the Charge 5 as well.
During our testing, we found that the bass was excellent at lower volumes, and the speaker sounded best at around 50-60% volume. It has great mids and clear highs, but if you go above 60-70% volume, the highs take over, and the speaker feels less bassy. After fiddling with the equalizer, we found that setting the treble to -2 and the bass to +2 improves the sound quality at higher volumes.
Battery Life
The JBL Flip 6 is advertised to have a battery life of 12 hours, the same as the Flip 5. During our tests, we found that the battery lasts around 12 hours if you’re playing music at mid-level volumes. If you use it occasionally, the battery should last for more than a day.
Conclusion: Should You Get the JBL Flip 6?
Overall, I really like the JBL Flip 6. It’s a well-designed portable speaker that looks modern and sleek. The addition of IP67 certification and Bluetooth 5.1 make it more future-proof and versatile than its predecessor. The sound quality is excellent, with powerful bass and clear mids and highs, and the JBL app that allows you to fine-tune the EQ settings to your liking. The battery life is also impressive, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge.
However, if you already own a JBL Flip 5 and you’re happy with it, there may not be enough new features to justify upgrading to the Flip 6. Also, if you’re looking for a portable speaker with voice assistant integration or built-in voice calling features, the Flip 6 doesn’t have those.
I would recommend the JBL Flip 6 to anyone who wants a high-quality portable speaker with great sound and durability. It’s a great choice for outdoor adventures, beach trips, or just listening to music at home.
