“Do you have trouble deciding whether JBL Flip 6 or JBL Charge 5 would be a better fit for you, as you’re interested in JBL speakers?
In this article, we would like to explain the differences between JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 from various perspectives, such as comparing their specifications, usage scenarios, sound quality, and features.”
First things first, the conclusion! If you choose this, you can’t go wrong
“The conclusion is that choosing ‘JBL Flip 6’ is a safe bet! However, for those who want to enjoy high volume outdoors, ‘JBL Charge 5’ is recommended.
JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 have almost the same performance and sound quality. JBL Flip 6 is lightweight, compact, and affordable, making it a cost-effective option.
In the next section, we will explain the comparison of specifications, speaker construction, and sound quality.”
I have summarized the differences between JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 in a table.
I have compiled the specifications for each product into a table. The important items are marked in yellow.
| Product Name | JBL Flip 6 | JBL Charge 5 |
| Weight | 550g | 960g |
| Size | W178×H68×D172mm | W220×H96.5×D94mm |
| Driver Size（Woofer） | 44×80mm | 52×70mm |
| Driver Size（Tweeter） | 16mm | 20mm |
| Passive Radiator | 2 pieces | |
| Total Output | 30W | 40W |
| Output（Woofer） | 20W | 30W |
| Output（Tweeter） | 10W | |
| Color Variations | ６Colors Black, Squad, Pink, Blue, White, Red | ５Colors Black, Gray, Squad, Blue, Red |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours 4,800mAh/27Wh | Up to 20 hours 7,500mAh/27Wh |
| Mobile Battery Function | × | 〇 |
| Waterproof/Dustproof Function | IP67 | |
| Bluetooth Specifications | Bluetooth5.1 | |
| Dedicated App | 〇 | |
| PartyBoost Function | 〇 | |
I understand that it may be difficult to understand the specific differences just by looking at the table, so in the following sections, we will provide a detailed explanation of each item.
the appearance of the product
JBL Flip 6
The size of JBL Flip 6 is almost the same size and weight as a 500ml PET bottle. The weight is 550g, and the size is W178 x H68 x D172mm.
It has a familiar size and is lightweight, so you can easily move it around your room or take it outdoors.
Although the product comes with an instruction manual, I believe that the operation is very simple and you can use it right after opening.
The buttons on the top of the main body are for Party Boost (multiple speaker connection) on the left, volume down, volume up, and play/pause buttons.
On the back of the main body, there is a strap holder, power button, Bluetooth connection button, and a charging port (waterproof USB Type-C) arranged.
A strap is included, so you can hang it somewhere to use it or attach it to a backpack or bag when you go out.
There are passive radiators on both sides of the main body that emphasize the bass.
When music is playing, the passive radiators vibrate subtly and can also be enjoyed visually.
The main body contains a large woofer and tweeter, adopting a professional 2-way speaker structure.
JBL Charge 5
JBL Charge 5 has won the international design award “Red Dot Design Award” and has a sophisticated and high-quality design.
As for its size, it is about one size larger than the JBL Flip 6 and about the same size as a 1.5-liter PET bottle in thickness. It weighs 960g and its size is W220 x H96.5 x D94mm.
There is an instruction manual included with the product, but we believe the operation is very simple, so you can use it immediately after opening it.
The buttons on the top of the main unit are, from left to right, Party Boost (multiple speaker connection), volume down, power on/off, Bluetooth connection, volume up, and play/pause.
On the back of the unit, the blue arrow indicates the charging port (USB Type-C) for the main body, while the red arrow indicates the power supply port (USB Type-A).
It is equipped with a portable charging function, so you can enjoy music while charging your devices such as smartphones.
There are passive radiators on both sides of the main body that emphasize the bass.
When music is played, the passive radiators vibrate subtly, making them enjoyable to watch.
The main body has a large woofer and tweeter installed, adopting a full-fledged 2-way speaker structure.
Sound quality
Driver unit
A driver unit refers to the mechanism that generates sound by transmitting electrical signals to a vibrating plate and creating sound waves.
It is generally believed that the sound quality improves as the size of the driver unit increases.
Both the JBL Flip 6 and the JBL Charge 5 are equipped with two types of drivers: a woofer that excels in expressing low frequency sounds and a tweeter that excels in expressing high frequency sounds.
| JBL Flip 6 | JBL Charge 5 | |
| Driver Size（Woofer） | 44×80mm | 52×70mm |
| Driver Size（Tweeter） | 16mm | 20mm |
| Frequency response | 63 Hz – 20k Hz | 60 Hz – 20k Hz |
Both the woofer and tweeter of JBL Charge 5 employ drivers that are one size larger than those of JBL Flip 6. JBL Charge 5 also covers a slightly wider frequency range.
While the difference is subtle and can only be noticed by comparing them side by side, I felt that the low frequencies were clearer and the high frequencies were better represented in JBL Charge 5, and overall, the sound resolution was finer.
Output wattage (literally: output in watts)
The output wattage (W) is an indicator of speaker volume, and for wireless speakers designed for portability, the output is generally around 5-50W.
As the speaker size decreases, the output wattage tends to decrease as well, and a relatively large-sized speaker is necessary to enjoy music at high volumes.
| JBL Flip 6 | JBL Charge 5 | |
| Output（Woofer） | 20W | 30W |
| Output（Tweeter） | 10W | 10W |
| Total Output | 30W | 40W |
If you have a large space like a living room, 20-30W is a good range, and for outdoor use, 30-50W is recommended. Compared to other products, the JBL Charge 5 delivers a powerful and impressive sound for its size.
Other functions
Battery Function
JBL Flip 6 has a maximum playback time of 12 hours, while JBL Charge 5 can play for up to 20 hours, which is approximately 1.6 times longer.
JBL Charge 5 is larger in size and has a larger battery capacity as a result.
It comes with a high-capacity battery (7,500mAh/27Wh), which can also be used to charge devices such as smartphones while listening to music. *It can charge an iPhone12 about 1.7 times.
Waterproof/Dustproof Function
The JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5 both have an IP67 rating for waterproof and dustproof performance, with the ability to withstand water at a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes, and the dustproof function is the highest rank in the standard.
Although speakers are considered precision equipment, the dustproof and waterproof function allows you to enjoy music while taking a bath or use it outdoors without worrying about damage.
However, when the charging or power supply part is wet with water, be sure to dry it completely before using it, as it may cause malfunctions.
PartyBoost Function
The PartyBoost function allows you to connect multiple JBL speakers with PartyBoost function to play music together.
You can even connect two speakers together for stereo sound. By the way, this function allows for connection of up to 100 speakers at once.
This model is recommended for these types of people
We have explained the differences between JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5. Finally, we have summarized the recommended models based on their features and usage. We hope you find this information helpful.
