If you’re one of those people who take your wireless speaker with you on holiday, when you go away for the weekend or simply to go down to the park, this review will be of interest to you. In it we compare two models that belong to one of the benchmark brands par excellence: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Flip 6. We’ve already told you that there are some similarities, but there are also quite a few differences between them that may affect your decision. If you want to know what they are, don’t miss our review!
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What are the similarities between JBL Charge 5 and JBL Flip 6?
Both speakers belong to the same company, so it’s not strange to think that they share some points in common, like the ones mentioned below:
PartyBoost technology
Have you already owned a JBL speaker? If so, you probably know that one of the brand’s special features is the PartyBoost system with which the company equips some of its speakers.
Thanks to it, you can connect two different JBL speakers to multiply the range of the sound, a very useful feature if you’re at a pool party, for example.
IP67 resistance
We talked about another of the most remarkable similarities between these speakers: their resistance to external agents. This is measured by the IP rating followed by two digits, one of which measures resistance to water and the other to dust.
Both the JBL Charge 5 and the Flip 6 have an IP67 rating, so they are equally tolerant to both sweat and dust. So you can use it at the beach or in the pool without a problem.
Visual and chromatic line-up
At first glance, JBL speakers are very easily identifiable, and in this case no less so, featuring a very similar design.
The main difference is that the JBL Charge 5 stands horizontally, while the Flip 6 stands vertically. The JBL Flip 6 is slightly narrower and lighter, but both share the same cylindrical shape, more convex in the middle and with two ends that end with rubber caps.
And, speaking of colours, another JBL feature is that it usually offers a wide range of colours so that you can choose the speaker in the colour you like best. Thus, either speaker is available in black, white, dark blue, turquoise blue, red, pink, green or grey, among others.
Bluetooth
We close the section on similarities by explaining that both speakers are compatible with Bluetooth version 5.1, so if you want to connect an external device, you will be able to do so in both cases.
What are the differences between JBL Charge 5 and JBL Flip 6?
If you have doubts and don’t know which model to choose, the differences often help more than the similarities when comparing. Especially when both options are of high quality and performance. Therefore, we summarise the most significant differences below:
Sound quality
Users who decide to buy a speaker check what the sound quality is like in each case, as this is their main purpose.
The JBL Charge 5 has a higher power output of 30 watts, compared to 20 watts for the Flip 6. Consequently, the sound quality is better in the Charge 5.
In addition, this speaker achieves a wider sonic frequency range. Both achieve a maximum of 20 kHz, but the Charge 5 covers frequencies from 60 Hz, while the Flip 6 covers frequencies from 63 Hz.
Battery life
As you know, wireless devices do not need to be plugged into a power source to work. Therefore, one of the most important aspects is the battery life they offer, in order to decide which one is more worthwhile.
That said, battery life is one of the most notable differences between the two alternatives.
The JBL Charge 5 achieves up to 20 hours of music playback on a single charge, a far cry from the 12 hours that the JBL Flip 6 can run for. However, the tables are turned when it comes to charging time, with the JBL Flip 6 only needing 2.5 hours to fully recharge its battery, as opposed to 4 hours for the Charge 5.
Built-in charger
Let’s be honest: we were hoping that JBL would introduce, in the Flip 6, the port for charging the phone on the device itself, a feature that the JBL Charge 5 does have. However, it hasn’t, and this remains a competitive disadvantage against its rival.
Retail price
It is clear that JBL Charge 5 has more sound power, more autonomy and allows charging the phone as an additional feature, it is consistent to see that it has a somewhat higher price than the Flip 6, despite the fact that this model is more recent.
JBL Charge 5 Vs JBL Flip 6: our recommendation
It’s time to choose which one to go for, a decision that is not easy as these are two high-end speakers. However, we always try to be honest, and in this case, we have to admit that we expected more improvements and innovations in the JBL Flip 6.
We did see some improvements in some areas over the Flip 5, but it was an opportunity to match the Charge 5 in functionality and features.
The reality is that the JBL Charge 5 beats its rival in power, sound reproduction quality and battery life. It also features a port for charging your phone while you’re using the speaker, a feature that the Flip 6 lacks.
Aesthetically, the Flip 6 more closely resembles the design of the Charge 5 than its predecessor, and in both cases you can choose from a fun range of colours. One advantage for the Flip 6 in this regard is that it is lighter, making it more comfortable to carry around.
And, when you consider the price, which is always an important purchasing criterion in the decision. Given the strengths of the Charge 5, it is logical to think that the JBL Charge 5 is more expensive, as it has more advanced features.
However, the economic difference is not too great, and in this case, we believe that it is still worth opting for the JBL Charge 5 because of the better performance it offers. Therefore, in this case our recommendation is to keep the JBL Charge 5 if you already have it, or buy it if you need a new one.
Top sellers: the most successful JBL speakers
Amazon is the world’s largest marketplace, and it is also one of the best sources of reference and information when looking for a new product. If you want to know which JBL speakers are the best sellers on this platform, take a look at this list:
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