The JBL Charge 5 vs Flip 6: Which Should You Get?
The two most recent speakers in the audio industry are the JBL Charge and JBL Flip series, and since then, the company has continued to astonish audiophiles around the world with these two speaker series.
The JBL Charge 5 vs Flip 6
There is no doubt that both of them sound amazing. The thing is that it might be difficult to choose which one is the best for you. The clash of the JBL Charge 5 vs Flip 6 will show the difference between these the two speakers. And at the end of the article, the winner of two portable Bluetooth speakers will be determined. Let’s this battle begin.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary
Some similar features:
- The Charge 5 has a much longer battery life than the Flip 6 and can also be used to charge a mobile device
- The Charge 5 and Flip 6 have the same water and dust resistance rating
- The two speakers have a Bluetooth 5.1 version that provides greater range than their predecessors
- The JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 have different kind of benefits. The Charge 5 can sound a little louder and produce more extended low bass output. However, the Flip 6 is smaller and has a place to attach a handle, making it slightly more portable than the Charge 5. It also has greater directivity, resulting in wider sound output
Short Verdict. You should get:
- the JBL Charge 5 if sound quality and battery capacity have more significance to you
- the JBL Flip 6 if you prefer a portable speaker with great sound output and a cheaper option
This is just a brief overview. Check out the JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 performance comparison battle and scroll down.
[amazon box=”B08X4YMTPM, B09GJZKQ3K” grid=”2″]
The JBL Charge 5 vs Flip 6: Comparison Chart
Name | JBL Charge 5 | JBL Flip 6 |
SOUND QUALITY | ||
Frequency response range | 60 Hz – 20 kHz | 63 Hz – 20 kHz |
Output Power | 30 watts | 20 watts |
Maximum playing time (hrs) | 20 | 12 |
BUILD QUALITY | ||
Waterproof & Dustproof | IP67 | IP67 |
BATTERY | ||
Battery Life | 20 hrs | 12 hrs |
Charge Time | 4 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
Power Saving | ||
Charging Port | ||
Battery Type | Li-ion polymer 27 Wh | Li-ion polymer 17.28 Wh (equivalent to 3.6V /4800mAh) |
VOICE ASSISTANT | ||
Alexa | ||
Google Assistant | ||
Siri | ||
Voice Activation | ||
APP | ||
App Name | JBL Portable | JBL Portable |
iOS | ||
Android | ||
JBL PartyBoost | ||
EQ | Graphic | Graphic |
Stereo Pair Mode | ||
Party Mode | ||
BLUETOOTH | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6 | A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6 |
Bluetooth Frequency | 2400 MHz - 2483.5 MHz | 2400 – 2483.5 MHz |
Bluetooth Transmitted modulation | GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK | GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK |
Bluetooth Transmitting Power | ≤ 20 dBm (EIRP) | ≤ 10 dBm |
PORTABILITY | ||
Dimensions (cm) | 22 x 9.6 x 9.3 (cm) | 17.8 x 6.8 x 7.2 (cm) |
Dimensions (in) | 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 (in) | 7.12 x 2.91 x 2.71 (in) |
Weight (kgs) | 0.96 (kgs) | 0.55 (kgs) |
Weight (lbs) | 2.11 (lbs) | 1.21 (lbs) |
[amazon fields="B08X4YMTPM" value="button" title="Check Latest Price"] | [amazon fields="B09GJZKQ3K" value="button" title="Check Latest Price"] | |
Features Face to Face
Let’s discuss some of the speakers’ features and discover one to meet our needs. Shall we?
Sound Quality
No matter what you pick, the Charge 5 and Flip 6 are the best portable speakers in these series. They sound spectacular, having outstanding music output together with balanced audio profile. However, the Flip 6 model goes slightly behind with its 20 watts output power compared to the Charge 5 model, which has 30 watts. Nevertheless, the Flip 6’s dimensions correspond to its loudness, not pulling it down as for other same kind speakers.
[amazon box=”B08X4YMTPM” title=”JBL Charge 5 (Black)” template=”list”]
[amazon box=”B09GJZKQ3K” title=”JBL Flip 6 (Blue)” template=”list”]
As for details, both devices hold the same 10-watt tweeter, which pulls high and mid frequency tunes up to a new sound. The Flip 6 and Charge 5 have the same single frontward firing woofer, but on the first model it was rated at 20 watts, and on the second one – 30 watts, giving the Charge 5 more volume and better bass and drums.
Take into account that these two portable speakers distort sound at high volumes, so you better use them at mid ones (around 50%). Does it mean you can’t have them for outdoor events? Definitely, no. The Charge 5 and the Flip 6 have great soundstage and a PartyBoost feature, both fit for regular and experienced users. As a result, you can wirelessly pair them up with a stereo pair mode, but keep in mind that multiple JBL speakers can only be connected of the same series speakers.
Design and Colors
The Charge 5:
- portable enough to carry, however, is heavier in weight and bigger in size
- doesn’t have a carrying strap to make your hands free from holding
- has bigger dual passive radiators at the sides, the ends of which are covered with protective touchable rubber
- has 6 variations in colors (black, teal, camouflage, grey, green, blue, red)
The Flip 6:
- portable speaker which has a light weight and relatively small size
- comes with an attachable handle, which can be easily removed if there’s no need to relocate the device
- has smaller dual passive radiators, which also go with high-quality rubber
- has 5 variations in colors (black, grey, teal, blue, red)
These gadgets are sturdy enough to stand untypical weather or daily life conditions due to durable wired mesh and high-quality fabric.
Battery Life
The main difference between two models in this category is that the Charge 5’s battery allows 20 hours of playtime due to its effective size. Meanwhile the Flip 6’s stays-on-track capacity is 12 hours only. Nonetheless, this time significantly drops if speaker’s used on its maximum volume.
When talking about the charging abilities, both require a USB-C cable. You’ll fully charge the Flip 6 for 2.5 hours, whereas 4 hours sharp is recommended to power the Charge 5.
Moreover, the Charge 5 benefits in having a USB-A port, meaning it has a power bank feature, so a user can utilize it as a power bank in order to supply an own device if a low battery appeared to happen somewhere far away from an electricity source. However, none have an auxiliary input.
Bluetooth
These devices look common in this category:
- both have the same version of Bluetooth 5.1, which gives them an advantage in fast connectivity and wide Bluetooth range;
- they have the same PartyBoost feature, so the pair mode can easily allow to link them with other JBL same series’ speakers in order to sound loud
- however, those which use older Connect+ feature (JBL Boombox 1, JBL Xtreme 2, JBL Pulse 3, JBL Charge 4, and JBL Flip 4) can’t be paired with the Charge 5 or Flip 6
- these gadgets can be connected with the new JBL speakers like the JBL Boombox 2, JBL Xtreme 3, JBL Pulse 4, and JBL Flip 5
Durability
The Charge 5 and the Flip 6 are durable enough to try them outside, especially in some extreme conditions, like trekking or hiking, or simply in the middle of wildlife. They both are water and dust-proof, being an IP67 rated.
It means that harsh environment (heavy rain, dirt, etc.) is not a big problem, as the speakers can be submerged in water for 30 minutes on 1meter depth and will repel the dust and sand (for example, on the beach), not causing them to stick within a gadget.
Software
The comparison of the JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 5 definitely gives a win to the first speaker as it has a customizable EQ, whereas the second one doesn’t have it, but we really hoped it’d have got it through a firmware update. With an adjustable EQ you make more bass with its strong output. From a performance standpoint, this speaker’s audio is well-balanced. Nevertheless, since the Charge 5 lacks it, the device still sounds excellent.
Which One’s Better?
Let’s start summing everything up:
- The Charge 5 wins in Sound Quality category as it has higher volume, more bass output, and better dual passive radiators
- The Charge 5 gets credit for greater battery capacity
- The Flip 6 takes a point for a customizable EQ, so you can adjust music performance for your needs
- The Flip 6 surpasses in portability due to its sizes, less weight, and attachable handle
- As for the price, the JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is more expensive than the JBL Flip 6, but the first one definitely costs each bucks due to its updates. Though the second one costs less, still its sound is magnificent due to the same kind of tweeter they share with the Charge 5
These speakers are great, however, in the clash of the JBL Charge 5 vs Flip 6 we would rather give a victory to the Charge 5.
[amazon box=”B08X4YMTPM, B09GJZKQ3K” grid=”2″]
Frequently Asked Questions
