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

I'm a fan.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018

I went and compared 3 similar portable speakers with each other (same price of around $100 each):

JBL Flip 4
- Best quality sound of the 3 (amazing quality - very similar to Bose Soundlink Mini)
- No noticeable crackle at max volume with high treble in music
- Strongest/deepest bass (my table was shaking on max volume)
- Very loud max volume

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM
- Smaller than JBL 4 but larger than Bose Micro
- Crackling at max volume for some songs with high treble (Was not expecting this)
- Bass is not as strong (very slight bass)
- Very loud max volume (similar to JBL 4)

Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth
- Smallest of the 3
- Max sound was at 75% that of JBL 4/Ultimate Ears
- Sounds "muffled" and not clear (quality is not even close to that of Bose Soundlink Mini)
- Exposed charging slot (is this really waterproof?)

Overall - I would pick JBL (amazing quality & very similar to Bose Soundlink Mini, but waterproof!) and Ultimate Ears for portability (75 % size of JBL 4). The Bose Micro, although very small, had really poor quality sound for the price (most disappointing).

1,151 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018

Let me first say, this is my second JBL flip 4, the one I had prior to this was an absolute BRUTE. I’m talking tough! It had been submerged under water, dropped countless times, taken to the beach, withstanded super hot summer days for hours, getting caked with mud but alas, it got ran over by a car while off-roading one day... but guess what? It STILL WORKS. Even in its smashed up state nothing broke but the speaker cover protector. So bravo JBL, this is a great product. However I bought this one for my father for his birthday, he only used it a few times in his bedroom and now it won’t turn on at all, so I tinkered with it come to find out it was a remanufactured speaker put back together incorrect without water proof rubber gaskets for the speakers, keep in mind I payed full price for a NEW speaker! Now the return windows are closed and I’m unsure who to contact to hopefully make this right...

1,777 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Steven Waka

I'm a fan.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018

Color: TealVerified Purchase

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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

3,678 people found this helpful

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SaltySphynx

Updated review 2021

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018

Color: TealVerified Purchase

This is a bittersweet review: I purchased this speaker in June of 2017, and for 14 months, this has been an outstanding little speaker. Sound is crisp, rich and bold. It is indeed water resistant and has held up under many different conditions, including the Florida heat and inclement weather. I don't know if I used it a bit more than the average consumer (20 to 30 hours a week), but in the past 30 days, I've noticed the battery life diminishing exponentially. Today (after a full charge last night), the battery was completely drained after 2 hours of use. The only other complaint I had prior to this, is that the charging cable broke at about the 9 month mark. So in summation, it may be that I just used it to "death", however for the $90+ paid for the device, I am very disappointed to not experience much greater longevity.

Am leaving my 2018 review above that was three stars, as Amazon won't let me add a second review for my most recent five star purchase. Anyway, I returned to the JBL flip (camo 2021 version) after we ran over over our UEBoom speaker & the prices on that brand are stupid now. The new JBL is actually better than the Boom we're replacing (and I rated the Boom higher it than the old JBL). I don't know if the JBL has been improved, or if we just used the Boom to death, but... the base is richer/deeper now than the Boom & brass tones are crisper. Maybe I'm fickle and will return to another product later, but if this one can last a year, I'll call it good.

60 people found this helpful

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Francisco Ramirez

Best Speaker You Will Find At $100

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2017

Verified Purchase

Before anyone assumes that I received any sort of discount, I bought this at the full price of $99.95

Price - As the title indicates, in my opinion this truly is the best speaker out there that you can buy with $100. At $99.95 this speaker is very affordable, of course if you live in most states you will pay about $7 more for tax but in certain states you won't be charged any. In the box you will receive a JBL Flip 4 speaker (with a paracord loop), a JBL tangle free Micro-USB cable, Quick Start Guide, Important Safety Instructions, and a Warranty Card.

Build - The JBL Flip 4 is considered a rugged speaker and also because it is IPX7 waterproof, it can be immersed in water up to 1 meters (or roughly 3 feet) for up to half an hour. Just remember to disconnect all cables and close the rubber flap. Although this is a rugged speaker, I would try very hard not to drop this or physically damage it. The Flip 4 has a total of 6 buttons: Play/Pause/Skip Track/Google or Siri/Answer/End Call, Volume Up, Volume Down, Bluetooth, Power, and JBL Connect+ (Connect+ allows you to connect 100 or more Connect+ enabled speakers for a surround sound experience or to full bigger areas). The Flip 4 also has 2 ports and an opening for your paracord loop, the 2 ports under the rubber flap are for a 3.5mm AUX cable and a Micro-USB charging cable. There is also a built-in microphone for calls or voice commands using Google or Siri.

Sound - I have few things to say about the sound quality of this speaker, simply because it is that amazing! The Flip 4 is unlike most speakers $100 and under. This speaker will not lose sound quality at max volume nor will it get distorted with bass heavy tracks. Even when under water, the sound will not suffer, it actually seems to increase your bass.

I highly recommend this product and encourage anyone looking for a speaker around $100 to purchase the JBL Flip 4

412 people found this helpful

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William

Best Speaker at This Price Point

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018

Color: GrayVerified Purchase

Sound quality is so subjective I want to review other aspects of the speaker and in comparison with comparably priced Anker Sound Boost. The reason is I was leaning toward the JBL Flip 4 but was researching Amazon to see if there were better options. There were a number of reviews for Anker that rated it superior to Flip 4, some from people professing to be experts or audiophiles. I took a chance and originally purchased the Anker, returned the next day and bought the Flip 4. I don;t profess to be either an expert or audiophile but I've bought many Wireless Speakers ranging from cheap to Beats and Bose. When I opened the Anker I was disappointed. The USB charging cable was obviously flimsy and cheap and the documentation even cheaper appearing. I had charge issues right off the bat and tried to contact support. In the interim I learned from web research that charging issues are not uncommon and that the manufacturer recommends using a different (higher quality) charging cable as the first remedy. I also learned that the instruction manual is incorrect and that the manufacturer is familiar with both problems yet continue to ship the speakers with these two inadequate components! I did connect the Anker to a couple of my devices and the Bluetooth connection was quick and easy. Both the range and sound quality were less than I expected. And, when I connected to my High Resolution Sony Digital player the volume control of the player was disabled. I researched that problem and found that it is a known issue when the Sony is connected to some lower quality Bluetooth devices.

The JBL Flip 4 arrived professionally packaged (as expected) with a robust USB charging cable and separately packaged, professionally printed and ACCURATE instructions. Initial charge was quick and as documented. Bluetooth connection is also quick and easy. Range is probably at least as good as advertised and way better than the Anker. All controls of my connected devices (i.e. Sony player volume, etc.) work perfectly. Sound quality is subjective but that along with volume, bass, etc. it certainly meets my expectations and certainly is superior to Anker Sound Boost. JBL and Harman Kardon are brands that music lovers know they can trust and they continue to deliver. This is probably the best Bluetooth Speaker you can buy for under $100. I only share this in case someone else is considering the Flip 4 and checking out the options. Please don't get fooled by reviews of some competitors, especially those who use JBL Flip 4 in unfavorable comparison. Of course we all buy speakers for the sound not for the packaging or accessories or printed material but if those things are inferior it's pretty indicative of what to expect with the main product.

57 people found this helpful

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lowrez

JBL Flip 4 Musing - My New #1

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2017

Verified Purchase

Although I'm not doing speaker reviews anymore I was so impressed by the JBL Flip 4 that I had to write a little something. The Xiaomi Mi has been my go-to BT speaker. It has really great sound; especially for the size. Sadly I accidentally played some frequency test tones at high volume and my Xiaomi Mi was blown. After 3 days of only having laptop speakers I was fed up. I needed something better. Good things have been written about the JBL Flip 3, and I always wanted to give it a try. Now the 4 is out and I hear it's even better! Being desperate for quality sound I bought one.

I really wasn't planning on buying any speakers and really couldn't afford it. I'm experienced and very picky about audio. From all I've read my expectations were very high. Given all of this the odds were stacked high against the Flip 4.

Once I heard the thing I was stunned at how full and well balanced it sounds! I have a thing for small speakers that sound big and this doesn't disappoint at all. Even better is that it manages to sound big without any lame DSP tainting the sound. There is no silly bass boost and no compression; just good full sound. This is my new #1.

797 people found this helpful

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Kyia S.

Powerful Speaker

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018

Color: WhiteVerified Purchase

This speaker is absolutely amazing, and definitely worth the price! I have been using this speaker ever since I received it in the mail. I was so impressed with the quality, the sound, and the bass. I bought the white speaker, and the only thing I have to say about it is that the color looks like more of a pure white when it is in the light and might look like more of an off-white/grey in regular light. The speaker came with a wrist strap which is really awesome, and also a charger. The packaging is very nice, and I am going to use that as a place to put my JBL when I finish using it. It is very easy to pair with a device, and if you choose to download the JBL Connect+ app it is also easy to pair with as well. The battery life is spectacular, so you don't really have to worry about charging it often. Overall, great speaker! I would recommend this to anyone!

32 people found this helpful

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Ryan Donahue

10/10 For reasons, etc...

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2020

Color: WhiteVerified Purchase

My Flip 3 died a slow and painful death, so I had to buy a new one. Deciding between the flip 4 and 5 wasn't too difficult. I'm a musician, so when I found out the Flip 5 played only in mono it was an instant deal-breaker.

The Flip 4 is durable, waterproof, and very loud. I need to turn the volume down to just 3 clicks at work to keep it low enough so my boss can't hear it from his office. However, I blast it literally everywhere else I go. My car stereo is broken so I just set this thing on my dash and it powers through the noise of my open window going 80 up and down the HWY 101. I sing in the shower and it does a great job of overpowering my terrible voice, even when drenched in water, so that's a plus (I'm a drummer, not a singer). I also set it on my hood while washing my carblast week and the whole neighborhood could hear me blasting everything from metal to deep blues to K-pop. I'm just kidding, I don't listen to K-pop.

The Bluetooth works well. Almost too well... I was in my car on my break and left the thing sitting on my desk. I was trying to watch a YouTube video of how to jailbreak an iPhone (idk why, I hate apple products) and I couldn't figure out why my audio wasn't working. I cranked my phone all the way up and still nothing. Turns out I left the Bluetooth on and my whole office's ears were bleeding from the blaring voice of Linus from "Linus Tech Tips".

I recommended this speaker to my friend so she bought one, and linking them together is very useful. If you set two of them back to back in the middle of a room, the sound just fills the room completely, which I'm sure will be great for parties or social gatherings once we can have those again. (If you're reading this in the future and covid is finally been long over and you have no clue what I'm talking about, look it up, it's awful (yes, I'm bored (go look at newer speakers, there's probably a Flip 9 by now, jeez))).

Anyways...

10/10 Good Purchase

7 people found this helpful

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The best speaker!

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019

Color: BlackVerified Purchase

I’ve had my JBL speaker for about eight months now. I’m still blown away by this speaker’s ability. It sounds incredible. I’ve tried many speakers in the past but none have come close to this. Before buying the JBL I had actually purchased a Beats speaker. I wasn’t sure which to go with at first and wanted to compare the Beats speakers with JBL. When I put them side by side, I could not tell any difference at first in the sound. I probably am a bit of an audiophile so I’m always looking for that clear, crisp sound. After spending some time with the speakers, I came to the conclusion that JBL sounded crisper or more pleasant to my ears. Not to confusion its loudness with its clarity I do think there is without a doubt a noticeable difference between the two. To get another opinion on the matter I asked a relative to do a blind sound test. I placed the two speakers in front of her and asked her to keep her eyes closed. She was to pick out the one that sounded more pleasant to her ears. Between each song I flipped the speakers around. I shuffled through different music genres. 3 times out of 5 she kept picking the JBL. Needless to say, the Beats speaker was quickly sent back. I’m happy with my decision. I will probably purchase more JBL speakers in the future.

8 people found this helpful

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Claire Downs

Love it! Just upgraded from the Flip 3

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2020

Verified Purchase

I have always been a JBL fan. I love the brand. So it's no surprise that I decided to upgrade to the Flip 4. Where to begin?
First. The sound is great, for a portable speaker it really fills a room! My partner loves having it in the kitchen when he is washing the dishes, and I can hear the music through the house at a quality level (whether I want to or not ha!) I use it when I am in my studio painting, and can place it anywhere and still get great sound!
Second. The color I picked is beautiful. Truly, the dark teal color is awesome! I always love darker colors since you can't see how dirty they are over time like lighter colors. It also helps me find it easier when I eventually always lose track of it. I can't help it, I lose things easily, but the color helps me find it right away!
Third. Design. It feels more sleek and sturdy from the previous design of the Flip 3. I really love how they keep improving. The design sets the tone for the sound quality of this product. The charging port area is covered up but easy to access. Next to the charging port is an AUX connection for those that can't connect via Bluetooth. Connection to the device is easy as well, and always easy to pair new devices to it. The charging port is the same as my samsung phone charger so I can switch them out really easily if I misplace one or the other. (and like I said before, I misplace things easily)
Fourth. JBL in general is awesome. They have MANY designs of speakers that ALL connect to each other!! How awesome is that?!??! When I get together with my family, we all bring our JBL speakers and connect them all to place around the house. That way we can play one song throughout the entire house. This keeps a party connected and going.

Other random things about it. It's water resistant, so having it by the pool or at the beach during the summer is hassle free. The price is affordable, especially compared to most portable speakers with less reliability.

Pros:
-Sturdy
-Reliable
-Great color
-Awesome Sound Quality

Cons:
-Honestly, can't find any.

6 people found this helpful

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