Do you have questions like “I’m interested in JBL’s Flip series speakers, but I don’t know the differences between JBL Flip 6 and JBL Flip 5?”
In this article, we would like to explain the comparison between the new model JBL Flip 6 and the old model JBL Flip 5, from various perspectives such as specifications, price, sound quality, and features.
First of all, the conclusion! You can’t go wrong with choosing this
In conclusion, choosing “JBL Flip 6” is definitely the right choice!
JBL Flip 6 has separate drivers for each frequency range, a woofer for low frequencies and a tweeter for high frequencies. With the same structure as a high-quality speaker, JBL Flip 6 has evolved to provide even higher sound quality for enjoying music.
Compared to other wireless speakers from other companies, there are no other options with 2-way driver structure (woofer and tweeter) for under 10,000 yen, making JBL Flip 6 a very cost-effective wireless speaker.
Spec Comparison Table for JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6
We have detailed the specifications of each product. Here, you can simply check the differences in numbers and specifications.
| Product Name | JBL Flip 5 | JBL Flip 6 |
| Weight | 540g | 550g |
| Size | W180×H74×D69mm | W178×H68×D72mm |
| Driver Size（Woofer） | Full-range（44×80mm） | 44×80mm |
| Driver Size（Tweeter） | Full-range（44×80mm） | 16mm径 |
| Passive Radiator | 2pieces | |
| Total Output | 20W | 30W |
| Output（Woofer） | Full-range | 20W |
| Output（Tweeter） | Full-range | 10W |
| Color Variations | ６Colors Black, Squad, Pink, Blue, White, Red | |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours 4,800mAh/27Wh | |
| Waterproof/Dustproof Function | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Specifications | Bluetooth4.2 | Bluetooth5.1 |
| Dedicated App | △ | 〇 |
| PartyBoost | 〇 | |
About the appearance of the product
Size, weight, and design
Both the JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6 are approximately the same weight and size as a 500ml plastic bottle. They are easy to carry around and have high portability, making them suitable for use in various places, both indoors and outdoors.
Regarding the design, the JBL Flip 5 has a modest logo in the center of the body, while the JBL Flip 6 has a larger, more prominent logo. This may be a matter of personal preference.
Some customers prefer the more understated JBL Flip 5 due to the prominent logo on the JBL Flip 6 being a concern for them.
The main control buttons are located on the top of the main unit, and the same layout is used for both models.
From left to right, the buttons are for Party Boost (for connecting multiple speakers), volume down, volume up, and play/pause for music.
The controls are very simple and easy to use, so even those who are not good at reading manuals need not worry.
The specification and button layout on the back of the main unit are also almost the same.
From left to right, there are a strap holder, power button, Bluetooth connection button, battery level indicator, and charging port.
Regarding the charging port, the JBL Flip 5 has a waterproof function, while the JBL Flip 6 has a Type-C port with dust and water resistance.
Regarding the sound quality
Driver unit and structure
The driver unit (hereafter referred to as the driver) refers to the mechanism that generates sound by transmitting electrical signals to a diaphragm and causing it to vibrate and create sound waves.
The JBL Flip 6 is equipped with two drivers, a woofer (44x80mm) and a tweeter (16mm in diameter), adopting a full-fledged two-way speaker structure as shown in the photo.
On the other hand, the JBL Flip 5 has only one driver of the same size (44x80mm) as the JBL Flip 6, covering the entire frequency range from low to high with a single driver.
Both the JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6 have two passive radiators installed on both sides of the speaker, which vibrate vigorously during music playback and produce a powerful bass sound.
| JBL Flip 5 | JBL Flip 6 | |
| Driver Size | Full-range：44x80mm | Woofer：52×70mm Tweeter：20mm |
| Frequency response | 65Hz – 20 kHz | 63 Hz – 20k Hz |
Sound quality of each model
The JBL Flip 5 is a speaker that emphasizes bass, while the JBL Flip 6 produces sound evenly from low to high frequencies and I felt that it is a very well-balanced speaker.
With the woofer and tweeter installed, the JBL Flip 6 provides separation and clarity in the sound, allowing vocals in the mid to high frequencies to be heard clearly without being buried in the bass, resulting in a pleasant listening experience.
While the sound quality of the JBL Flip 5 is also to my liking, it is slightly weaker in the mid to high frequency range, and when compared side by side, it sounds a bit muffled.
JBL Flip 6 has been improving on the weaknesses of the previous model, and I could feel the power of the manufacturer who has been the No. 1 share in wireless speakers for four consecutive years.
Output power in watts (W)
The output power in watts is an important indicator that determines the volume of the speaker.
Generally, the larger the output power in watts, the louder the sound, so if you want to enjoy music outdoors or in a large space, you need to choose a speaker with a higher value.
As a rough guide, 5-10W is sufficient for listening to music in a room of about 8 tatami mats. For outdoor or living room use, 20-30W is a good guideline.
The JBL Flip 5 has an output of 20W, and the JBL Flip 6 has an output of 30W, making it a wireless speaker that can be enjoyed in a wide range of locations from indoors to outdoors.
The output wattage of a smartphone is typically around 0.5-1.0W, so you can see how much higher the output of JBL speakers is.
Other functions
Battery performance
Both the JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6 can play for up to 12 hours.
The battery capacity is 4,800mAh/27Wh, which I think is an average playback time compared to wireless speakers of the same size.
There is a battery indicator (displayed in four stages) on the back of the speaker that shows the remaining battery level at a glance.
It has a power-off function that automatically turns off the power after 30 minutes of non-use.
When you press the power button, you can see the battery level, so you won’t miss the timing to charge it.
Waterproof and dustproof performance
The dust and water resistance performance is IPX7 for JBL Flip 5 and IP67 for JBL Flip 6.
Both models have high waterproofing performance and are considered to be unaffected by harmful effects within 30 minutes if they are submerged in water up to 1 meter deep.
JBL Flip 6 is equipped with the highest level of dustproof performance within the dustproof standard, ensuring that dust and sand do not enter the body.
This makes it useful for outdoor activities such as beaches and camping, and even if the speaker gets dirty, it can be washed with water, making it a very reliable partner.
PartyBoost Function
The PartyBoost function is a feature that allows you to connect multiple speakers via Bluetooth.
With this feature, you can play music from multiple speakers simultaneously, allowing you to enjoy powerful and high-volume sound in large rooms or venues.
Additionally, you can use an app to enable stereo mode, so if you have multiple speakers with PartyBoost, you can enjoy various ways of listening to music.
Bluetooth version
The Bluetooth versions for JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6 are 4.2 and 5.1, respectively.
Currently, as long as the Bluetooth version is 4.0 or later, there is less interruption or delay in communication, so there is no need to be too concerned about the version.
Summary
We have explained the differences between JBL Flip 5 and JBL Flip 6. Finally, we have summarized the usage, features, and recommended model, so we hope this information will be helpful to you.
You might have seen many unfamiliar items and numbers.
But don’t worry. We will explain them in an easy-to-understand manner, one by one.