Amazon.com: Customer reviews: JBL Flip 4, Black - Waterproof, Portable & Durable Bluetooth Speaker - Up to 12 Hours of Wireless Streaming - Includes Noise-Cancelling Speakerphone, Voice Assistant & JBL Connect+

Top positive review

Bluetooth Speaker Comparison -- 2017 Edition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 1, 2017

I was in need of a new portable speaker, and like many of you, I was a little overwhelmed after doing an Amazon search and finding literally tens of thousands of options to choose from. It's especially frustrating because probably the most important part of the product -- how good it sounds -- is not something you can really evaluate until after you physically have it. So I picked four speakers to compare: Cambridge Soundworks OontZ Angle 3 Plus, Anker SoundCore Sport XL, Geek Beats Jolt5, and the JBL Flip 4.

First, the Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 PLUS Bluetooth Speaker with 30-Hour Playtime - Richer Bass Greater Sound Quality & 10W+ Loud Volume, Water Resistant Splashproof, Portable Wireless Speaker, is a slightly larger version of the best-selling speaker on Amazon with over 17,000 reviews and a $30 price tag, and this only costs $5 more, so why not give it a shot? I chose Anker SoundCore Sport XL Outdoor Portable Bluetooth Speaker - 16W Output and 2 Subwoofers, IP67 Waterproof & Dustproof, Shockproof, 66ft Bluetooth Range, 15H Playtime, Built-in Mic, USB Charging Port, partially because I have other Anker products that I'm pretty happy with, but also because the 66-foot advertised range seemed like it could come in handy if I were working in the backyard with my phone in my pocket and the speaker sitting on the porch. I selected the GEEK BEATS JOLT5 10W X-Bass Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker and USB Power Bank - Green. IP65 Water and Dust Resistant with 5200mAh Samsung Battery. because it's the same price as the Anker, it has an average of 4.9 stars (wow!), and it can be used as a battery to charge your phone. And finally, I chose the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black) because in my search, I kept seeing the JBL Flip 3 pop up in reviews for other speakers, and this is the newest (and supposedly slightly better) version of that speaker.

Sound Comparison: Sitting in my living room and swapping around between the four options, it's clear that the Flip 4 is the most, well, clear. Considering it's also the most expensive, I kinda expected that to be the result. Surprisingly, the OontZ was a solid second place with a bit more rumble in its bass compared to the Flip 4 but at the cost of less clarity. The Anker and Jolt5 were noticeably flatter in their sound, seeming to favor the lows instead of an overall range, and this caused some distortion at higher volumes. When I took the speakers outside, it's a slightly different story. With the speakers on the patio, I walked into the yard about 25 feet and compared the sound quality again, and again I'd put the Flip 4 in the top spot. This time, however, I'd actually say the Anker was a solid number 2. At this distance, the distortion from having the volume up the whole way was not very noticeable and didn't detract from the music I was playing, and the Anker is a bit louder than the OontZ. The Jolt5 is a distant last place being not only flat but also not as loud. It's comparable to listening to the radio on a boombox from the 90s.

Bluetooth Range: With the speakers inside, all four started cutting in and out around the same spot about 30 feet away. It's around a corner, so having a wall in the way seems to even the odds here. Having an open space outside didn't seem to make a difference to the Jolt5, though, as it still broke up around 30 feet. The product page on Amazon says 33 feet, so that's pretty accurate. The OontZ fared a bit better and almost made it to the back gate about 60 feet away. The Anker is pretty spot on with its advertised 66-foot range as it went a bit further than the OontZ, even onto the other side of the gate and almost into the road. The Flip 4 was still going strong when I got to the other side of the road and couldn't go any further in a straight line, maybe 75 feet.

Other Things: Depending on what exactly you plan on using your speaker for, and just for comparison's sake, there are some differences that may be worth note:

-- All four speakers come with a mini-USB to USB charging cable but not the plug. If you've charged a cell phone in the last 10 years or so, however, you should probably already have one.
-- The Jolt5 and OontZ come with a 3.5mm cable so you can plug your phone right into it instead of using bluetooth (though all four speakers have this option, just not the cable).
-- The Anker and Jolt5 have a USB port so they can be used as a portable battery to charge your phone.
-- The Anker, Flip 4, and Jolt5 have hand straps. The OontZ does not come with one nor have a place to attach one.
-- The Anker, Flip 4, and Jolt5 have audible cues when they power on or off. The OontZ is silent. All four speakers do, however, make a noise when you successfully pair a device through bluetooth.
-- All four speakers are splash resistant, but only the Anker and Flip 4 are likely to live if they fall into the water (submersible up to 30 minutes)
-- The Anker and Jolt5 are shock resistant, so they likely won't shatter if you drop them
-- The OontZ has the longest battery life (30 hours) and the Flip 4 has the shortest (12 hours)
-- The Flip 4 can be paired with other Flip 4's (through an app) to provide a wireless multi-speaker experience. There are Bluetooth adapters that would allow you to do this with the other speakers if you wanted, as well as physically connecting them with 3.5mm cables.
-- The Flip 4 comes in a variety of colors.
-- They are all roughly the same size, just differently shaped (see pics)

Conclusion: The best bang for your buck is the OontZ Angle 3 Plus. It's a measly $35 and sounds almost as good as the $100 Flip 4, especially inside. In addition to being inexpensive, you can literally keep it blaring music for an entire day. It's not quite as loud outside as the Anker or Flip 4, but it's also half the price. If you're willing to pay for premium sound, go with the Flip 4 or even the Flip 3 if you want to save 20 bucks. Supposedly the sound is comparable, just the Flip 4 has a longer playtime. It really is noticeably clearer compared to the other options, so if you were using it with a projector to watch a movie, for example, the rumbling and distortion aren't going to drown out the dialogue, and likewise vocals on a music track don't get lost in the rest of the noise. If you're planning on a bunch of outside activities, like mountain biking or camping, the ruggedness of the Anker and ability for it to charge your phone makes it your best bet. I didn't do a drop test with any of these, but the Anker feels like a rubberized brick and would probably survive a fall. Other than battery life, there's no reason to ever choose the Jolt5 over the Anker, especially considering they are the same price. The Jolt5 is just worse in every way, and I honestly don't understand its 4.9 rating.

The Jolt5 is going back. The Flip 4 is staying. I'm still debating between the Anker and OontZ and may keep them both since the cost combined is still less than a Flip 4.

EDIT: After further testing, the Anker is going back and I'm keeping the OontZ. When plugged in with a 3.5mm cable, the sound is dramatically better with way more bass and a louder volume. And it's still somehow the cheapest one.

TL;DR:
-- On a budget? Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 Plus
-- Best sound? JBL Flip 4 (though I do wish it had a bit more bass)
-- Most likely to survive your abuse? Anker SoundCore Sport XL

3,988 people found this helpful

Top critical review

All critical reviews›

Stacy Keen

great portable speaker with decent sound

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2023

I like this speaker even though I don't use it for portability. I use it to play rain sounds at night for help sleeping so I'm not running my pc with a 1000w power supply killing the electric bill. Music sounds good and has nice bass for its size but the highs/treble are awful and just missing. The thunder really comes through but the higher pitched rain sound is just absent. Overall I'm satisfied and can recommend. I could see this being great poolside, at a picnic or sitting around a table playing party/card games. I bought one because a friend had the smaller version that clipped to his belt at work and really surprised me at how good it sounded for such a small speaker. If you can find the older models like this one then it's a great value but the new models I don't think are worth the extra price.

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D L

Bluetooth Speaker Comparison -- 2017 Edition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

I was in need of a new portable speaker, and like many of you, I was a little overwhelmed after doing an Amazon search and finding literally tens of thousands of options to choose from. It's especially frustrating because probably the most important part of the product -- how good it sounds -- is not something you can really evaluate until after you physically have it. So I picked four speakers to compare: Cambridge Soundworks OontZ Angle 3 Plus, Anker SoundCore Sport XL, Geek Beats Jolt5, and the JBL Flip 4.

First, the Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 PLUS Bluetooth Speaker with 30-Hour Playtime - Richer Bass Greater Sound Quality & 10W+ Loud Volume, Water Resistant Splashproof, Portable Wireless Speaker , is a slightly larger version of the best-selling speaker on Amazon with over 17,000 reviews and a $30 price tag, and this only costs $5 more, so why not give it a shot? I chose Anker SoundCore Sport XL Outdoor Portable Bluetooth Speaker - 16W Output and 2 Subwoofers, IP67 Waterproof & Dustproof, Shockproof, 66ft Bluetooth Range, 15H Playtime, Built-in Mic, USB Charging Port , partially because I have other Anker products that I'm pretty happy with, but also because the 66-foot advertised range seemed like it could come in handy if I were working in the backyard with my phone in my pocket and the speaker sitting on the porch. I selected the GEEK BEATS JOLT5 10W X-Bass Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker and USB Power Bank - Green. IP65 Water and Dust Resistant with 5200mAh Samsung Battery. because it's the same price as the Anker, it has an average of 4.9 stars (wow!), and it can be used as a battery to charge your phone. And finally, I chose the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black) because in my search, I kept seeing the JBL Flip 3 pop up in reviews for other speakers, and this is the newest (and supposedly slightly better) version of that speaker.

Sound Comparison: Sitting in my living room and swapping around between the four options, it's clear that the Flip 4 is the most, well, clear. Considering it's also the most expensive, I kinda expected that to be the result. Surprisingly, the OontZ was a solid second place with a bit more rumble in its bass compared to the Flip 4 but at the cost of less clarity. The Anker and Jolt5 were noticeably flatter in their sound, seeming to favor the lows instead of an overall range, and this caused some distortion at higher volumes. When I took the speakers outside, it's a slightly different story. With the speakers on the patio, I walked into the yard about 25 feet and compared the sound quality again, and again I'd put the Flip 4 in the top spot. This time, however, I'd actually say the Anker was a solid number 2. At this distance, the distortion from having the volume up the whole way was not very noticeable and didn't detract from the music I was playing, and the Anker is a bit louder than the OontZ. The Jolt5 is a distant last place being not only flat but also not as loud. It's comparable to listening to the radio on a boombox from the 90s.

Bluetooth Range: With the speakers inside, all four started cutting in and out around the same spot about 30 feet away. It's around a corner, so having a wall in the way seems to even the odds here. Having an open space outside didn't seem to make a difference to the Jolt5, though, as it still broke up around 30 feet. The product page on Amazon says 33 feet, so that's pretty accurate. The OontZ fared a bit better and almost made it to the back gate about 60 feet away. The Anker is pretty spot on with its advertised 66-foot range as it went a bit further than the OontZ, even onto the other side of the gate and almost into the road. The Flip 4 was still going strong when I got to the other side of the road and couldn't go any further in a straight line, maybe 75 feet.

Other Things: Depending on what exactly you plan on using your speaker for, and just for comparison's sake, there are some differences that may be worth note:

-- All four speakers come with a mini-USB to USB charging cable but not the plug. If you've charged a cell phone in the last 10 years or so, however, you should probably already have one.
-- The Jolt5 and OontZ come with a 3.5mm cable so you can plug your phone right into it instead of using bluetooth (though all four speakers have this option, just not the cable).
-- The Anker and Jolt5 have a USB port so they can be used as a portable battery to charge your phone.
-- The Anker, Flip 4, and Jolt5 have hand straps. The OontZ does not come with one nor have a place to attach one.
-- The Anker, Flip 4, and Jolt5 have audible cues when they power on or off. The OontZ is silent. All four speakers do, however, make a noise when you successfully pair a device through bluetooth.
-- All four speakers are splash resistant, but only the Anker and Flip 4 are likely to live if they fall into the water (submersible up to 30 minutes)
-- The Anker and Jolt5 are shock resistant, so they likely won't shatter if you drop them
-- The OontZ has the longest battery life (30 hours) and the Flip 4 has the shortest (12 hours)
-- The Flip 4 can be paired with other Flip 4's (through an app) to provide a wireless multi-speaker experience. There are Bluetooth adapters that would allow you to do this with the other speakers if you wanted, as well as physically connecting them with 3.5mm cables.
-- The Flip 4 comes in a variety of colors.
-- They are all roughly the same size, just differently shaped (see pics)

Conclusion: The best bang for your buck is the OontZ Angle 3 Plus. It's a measly $35 and sounds almost as good as the $100 Flip 4, especially inside. In addition to being inexpensive, you can literally keep it blaring music for an entire day. It's not quite as loud outside as the Anker or Flip 4, but it's also half the price. If you're willing to pay for premium sound, go with the Flip 4 or even the Flip 3 if you want to save 20 bucks. Supposedly the sound is comparable, just the Flip 4 has a longer playtime. It really is noticeably clearer compared to the other options, so if you were using it with a projector to watch a movie, for example, the rumbling and distortion aren't going to drown out the dialogue, and likewise vocals on a music track don't get lost in the rest of the noise. If you're planning on a bunch of outside activities, like mountain biking or camping, the ruggedness of the Anker and ability for it to charge your phone makes it your best bet. I didn't do a drop test with any of these, but the Anker feels like a rubberized brick and would probably survive a fall. Other than battery life, there's no reason to ever choose the Jolt5 over the Anker, especially considering they are the same price. The Jolt5 is just worse in every way, and I honestly don't understand its 4.9 rating.

The Jolt5 is going back. The Flip 4 is staying. I'm still debating between the Anker and OontZ and may keep them both since the cost combined is still less than a Flip 4.

EDIT: After further testing, the Anker is going back and I'm keeping the OontZ. When plugged in with a 3.5mm cable, the sound is dramatically better with way more bass and a louder volume. And it's still somehow the cheapest one.

TL;DR:
-- On a budget? Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 Plus
-- Best sound? JBL Flip 4 (though I do wish it had a bit more bass)
-- Most likely to survive your abuse? Anker SoundCore Sport XL

3,988 people found this helpful

Helpful

lazerman06

Works perfectly

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 13, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

Had it for a couple weeks now and this speak ler works perfectly as intended. I really just needed a quality Bluetooth speaker for playing music in the bathroom while I shower and get ready for work lol. I have used cheap ones and even a tiny name brand speaker that had some decent bass. But of course the cheap ones either stop working not long after you get them, the sound quality isn't great, has terrible battery life, or a combination of all of them. The name brand one just couldn't hold the power of the music and would fade down after a few minutes.....I'm assuming it's an automatic feature to protect itself from blowing out the speaker I guess or something. But this JBL has great sound with all the bass I need for the situation, and and isn't showing any signs of water damage from the steam in the bathroom so far. Battery life is great too. 30 min to an hr a day for almost a week and it still has juice. Only time will tell but so far, this JBL speaker is on point.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Thomas F Miller lawyer Minnesota

Truly amazing sound

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

I owned an original 'Megaboom' waterproof Bluetooth speaker, and I was very pleased with it. I looked to replace its battery when it finally gave up the ghost after almost five years of service, but the replacement batteries were no-name imports, and they were more expensive by themselves than the Flip 4 cost to purchase. So I discarded, with some emotion, my wonderful MB, and purchased the F4.

I could not be more pleased. While it is much smaller than the MB, the sound quality seems to be at least as good. It can project through my whole house, or back yard. I notice no distortion at any frequency (of course, you loose stereo separation, as is inevitable when using only one speaker).

I was particularly impressed by its Bluetooth connectivity. I have paired it with PCs running windows, Android devices, and one iPhone, and it mated within a second or two.

Highly recommended.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Bargain Quien

Not Great

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 23, 2023

Color: TealVerified Purchase

This speaker right to begin with was not as loud as my old charge 2. But I was okay with that until it started just cutting off when it was fully charged. And when it did stay on for any length of time the battery would die in about 2 hours. Thankfully I have bought an Asurion warranty. They immediately refunded my money. Now I am purchasing a JBL charge 4. I had the charge to for years and it was great the battery just won't stay charged up anymore. So maybe this will be better

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Kevin Williams

Highly recommend

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 28, 2023

Color: GrayVerified Purchase

I personally am still using my UE speaker that I bought years ago, but its speakers are getting a bit fuzzy at high volume - I will replace it with this speaker when that day comes.
Great value at a price point under $100 for the JBL though. I've purchased one for my son, one for a buddy I hang with, and one for the GF. All of them love this thing, as do I. I don't really know what's out there from the "Amazon brands" but for this price, I would recommend going this route for brand integrity and reputation, if nothing else. Sound is great and seems to hold a charge pretty darned well.
If there's a comparable speaker with the USB-C plug at the speaker, that may be worth spending a couple more bucks on, as I've seen the micro-usb ports get damaged.
Regardless, highly recommend

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

T. Blackstone

Great sound, and it's waterproof!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2023

Color: WhiteVerified Purchase

The first unit I got of this was a dud. It quit working after a few days. But when I returned it for a refund and rebought it, the next one worked just fine.

It's nice and loud and clear. I love watching movies with it, as it sounds much better than your average TV speakers. The fact that it's portable and waterproof is also nice. My son took it out on the porch so that he could listen to music in the rain. Him and the speaker got drenched, but this didn't cause any problem for the speaker at all.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michael L.

A must-have for anyone who loves great sound quality and versatility.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 10, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

The JBL Flip 4 is an all-purpose Bluetooth speaker that is perfect for any occasion. This black speaker is not only portable and durable, but it is also waterproof, making it the perfect choice for outdoor adventures. You can take the party with you anywhere, thanks to its powerful stereo sound that can play continuously for up to 12 hours. The speaker can connect wirelessly to up to 2 smartphones or tablets, allowing you to take turns playing your favorite tunes. Plus, the noise-cancelling speakerphone ensures crystal-clear calls, even in noisy environments.

One of the best things about the Flip 4 is the ability to link over 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers together, so you can amplify the party even further. And with a simple button press, you can access Siri or Google Now from your speaker. Lastly, the Flip 4 includes dual external passive radiators, which allow you to not only hear but also feel the bass. With over 70 years of experience in delivering high-quality sound, JBL has yet again delivered a speaker that truly unleashes the power of music.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mark Tabalno

very good quality

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 5, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

very good quality of sound for the price which is comparable to the brands that others like for audio but i think i get better value through this jbl speaker

Helpful

Avidaa

Great stereo sound for laptops.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 26, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

I use the JBL Flip 4 to get better sound from laptops and to play music from my phone when riding my bike. I recently bought a laptop which had great sound reviews but was very unhappy with the volume & clarity. The JBL Flip 4 resolved my problems and eliminates the need to use a USB powered external speaker setup - it makes it much easier to watch movies while soaking in the hot tub. Also, it is very durable. It fell off my bike once when I was going fairly fast and has some blemishes now, but still sounds and works great!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jeff Wright

Great Bluetooth Speaker

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 24, 2023

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

Really great product that is nice looking, easy to set up, has a long battery life and great sound quality. The bass is very good IMO. I was looking for a portable alternative to my echo devices and this really hit the mark. Sound quality is superior as well.

One person found this helpful

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5 star		87%
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2 star		1%
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JBL Flip 4, Black - Waterproof, Portable & Durable Bluetooth Speaker - Up to 12 Hours of Wireless Streaming - Includes Noise-Cancelling Speakerphone, Voice Assistant & JBL Connect+

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JBL Flip 4, Black - Waterproof, Portable & Durable Bluetooth Speaker - Up to 12 Hours of Wireless Streaming - Includes Noise-Cancelling Speakerphone, Voice Assistant & JBL Connect+

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