The JBL Flip 6 is the next generation of the JBL Flip 5. This portable Bluetooth speaker is available in many different colors to suit your style. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and its removable carrying strap is handy if you want to bring it on the go. It's much more customizable than its predecessor since you can use the graphic EQ in the JBL Portable app to switch up its sound to your liking.
Our Verdict
The JBL Flip 6 isn't bad for music. Out of the box, it reproduces voices and lead instruments with accuracy and detail, making it a great choice for most music genres. You can customize its sound with the graphic EQ and presets in the JBL Portable app. That said, given its size, it doesn't bring as much rumble in the low-bass as larger speakers on the market, nor does it get as loud.
- Outstandingly portable.
- Graphic EQ.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Requires second unit for stereo audio.
The JBL Flip 6 isn't designed for watching movies, but if you pair it with your phone over Bluetooth to watch some videos, it can get the job done. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, so you can follow along with the action. There are some latency issues, so you'll likely notice lip-synching delays. Some apps can compensate for this differently, so your experience can vary.
- Outstandingly portable.
- Graphic EQ.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Requires second unit for stereo audio.
The JBL Flip 6 is good for podcasts. Dialogue is accurately reproduced right out of the box, so it's easy to follow along with your favorite hosts. Since you can pair it with up to two devices at once, it's easy to switch between different audio sources, and its portable design means you can bring it with you from room to room as you listen.
- Outstandingly portable.
- Graphic EQ.
- Multi-device pairing.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The JBL Flip 6 doesn't support voice assistants.
The JBL Flip 6 is decent for outdoor use. It's well-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. This small, lightweight speaker also comes with a removable carrying strap to help transport it when you're on the go. That said, its battery life only lasts just under six hours, so while it can last through an afternoon picnic, it'll need a recharge if you plan on partying into the night.
- Outstandingly portable.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Requires second unit for stereo audio.
Changelog
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Updated Jun 02, 2025:
We've updated the Frequency Response Accuracy section with a comparison to the Sony ULT FIELD 3.
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Updated May 20, 2025:
We mentioned the JBL Charge 6 in the Build Quality section of this review.
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Updated Oct 31, 2024:
We added a reference to the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
- Updated Oct 16, 2024: This review has been updated to mention the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus in the Frequency Response Accuracy section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker comes in nine color variants: Black, Blue, Camo, Green, Gray, Pink, White, Teal, and Red. Plus, you can customize your own colorways to get a speaker that suits your style; you'll find this on JBL's website. We tested the Black variant, though we expect all color variants to perform similarly. You can find the labels for the model tested here, here, and here.
If you come across any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL Flip 6 is the next generation of the JBL Flip 5. It has a neutral-sound profile out of the box, and unlike its predecessors, you can customize its sound to your liking via the graphic EQ in the JBL Portable app. It's well-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. The JBL Flip 6 also supports PartyBoost, meaning you can connect it to PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers like the JBL Charge 5. You can't connect it to JBL Connect+ speakers like the JBL Flip 4. Also, unlike the Flip 4, it doesn't support voice assistants through your smartphone since it lacks a mic.
Check out our recommendations for the best JBL speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best golf cart speakers.
The JBL Flip 7 and JBL Flip 6 are so alike that price may determine your choice, and you can't mix and match the generations for stereo pairs. However, there are some differences. The Flip 7 has a slightly higher IP68 rating, and it's advertised to be drop resistant up to a meter, compared to the IP67 rating on the Flip 6. The Flip 7 also lets you skip back a track on the controls, and it adds a USB audio connection. Choosing PlayTime Boost lets you extend the battery life. That said, the Flip 6 compresses a little less at max volume, and it has most of the same features and functionality as the next gen.
The JBL Charge 5 and the JBL Flip 6 have different strengths. The Charge 5 can get slightly louder and produce a more extended low bass out of the box. It also has a much longer battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage. However, the Flip 6 is smaller and has a removable carrying strap, making it a bit more portable than the Charge 5. It also has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.
The JBL Flip 5 and the JBL Flip 6 are similar speakers. The Flip 5 can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Flip 6 out-of-the-box. It has a better battery performance, too. That said, the Flip 6 has a graphic EQ you can use to customize its sound profile. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL Flip 6 and the Beats Pill are similarly-proportioned speakers. While they perform similarly in most areas, there are some key differences that can help you choose between them. The JBL is better-built, has better directivity and offers a graphic EQ in the companion app for additional sound customization. However, the Beats has the more balanced sound out-of-the-box, a longer battery life and features some voice assistant support via the Siri or Google Assistant capabilities of your smartphone. As a result, the JBL is a better fit for users that care about tuning the sound to their preferences and want more consistent sound from all angles. The Beats is a better choice for those that value voice assistant support and need the longer battery life for on-the-go use.
Test Results
This portable Bluetooth speaker has a design similar to that of other models in the Flip lineup. It's small and compact and lays horizontally on your table or desk. You can find it in lots of different colors to suit your style.
It's a small, lightweight speaker that's easy to bring around. If you're looking for a similar portable speaker to bring along with you on the golf course, you might want to consider the Bushnell Wingman, which comes with golf-oriented features.
This speaker's build quality is great. It feels solid and is wrapped in a tight fabric that doesn't feel like it could easily rip. Its controls are rubberized, and there's hard protective rubber on the ends of the speaker surrounding its passive radiators. While there isn't a rubber flap to protect its USB-C charging port, it's still rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It's even advertised to come with USB charging protection, which lets you know via an audible beep if you're too close to water, salt, or other chemicals. Also, like the JBL Charge 6, it comes with a carrying strap you can attach to its body.
This speaker has a fair selection of easy-to-use, rubberized controls. You can double-press the play/pause button to skip tracks. There's a PartyBoost button to connect it to other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers, like the JBL Flip 5, when you want to create a stereo pair or when you want to amplify your speaker's sound across a larger area without bumping up its volume.
The speaker also flashes a light when it's in Bluetooth pairing mode, which turns solid once it's paired. Pressing any button lights up the speaker's battery indicator lights momentarily to inform you of your current battery level. The speaker also emits a chime once you reach its maximum volume level. That said, there's no chime to inform you of once you reach its minimum volume. There also isn't a way to skip back to your previous track.
- JBL Flip 6 speaker
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- Removable carrying strap
- Quick Start Guide
The JBL Flip 6's frequency response accuracy is alright. Out of the box, it has a pretty even sound profile, especially in the mids, where most voices and lead instruments reproduce. As a result, it's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. You can customize its sound with the graphic EQ in the JBL Portable app. If you're interested in a similarly portable speaker that produces a deeper bass, consider the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) or the Sony ULT FIELD 3.
This speaker's soundstage isn't bad. It has good directivity, meaning audio is consistent from most angles around the speaker. While you can pair it with another speaker to create a stereo pair, it downmixes stereo content to mono when using it on its own. Check out the TREBLAB HD77 or the JBL Pulse 5 for a similar speaker with a better soundstage performance.
This speaker gets loud enough to fill an average-sized living room with sound, but it isn't suitable for larger or more open spaces. There's some compression compared to similarly sized speakers, like the Anker Soundcore Select 2S, as you push it to maximum volume. This is particularly evident in the bass range, where you can hear some pumping artifacts.
The manufacturer advertises that this speaker will last up to twelve hours, and it lasted over five hours in our tests. However, the settings you use can impact the overall battery performance. Fortunately, you can still listen to music while the speaker's charging, and there's also an auto-off feature to help save battery life. Consider the Sony ULT FIELD 1 or the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 if you want a speaker with a smaller form factor and a longer continuous battery life.
This speaker doesn't have voice assistant support but if that matters to you, then you'll want to consider the Sonos Roam 2.
The JBL Portable app is very good. It's compatible with iOS and Android devices and, unlike the Beats Pill, it features a graphic EQ to tweak the speaker's sound profile to your liking. You can use it to connect the JBL Flip 6 to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers like the JBL Charge 5 and the JBL Pulse 4 when you want to create a stereo pair and create a more immersive listening experience, or when you amplify your audio across a larger area. Compared to similar speakers like the EarFun UBOOM L, you have much more control over how this speaker sounds.
Aside from its charging port, this speaker doesn't have other wired inputs. Unlike the JBL Flip 4 and the JBL Charge 4, there's no AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker.
You can connect the speaker to up to two devices at a time, so switching between different audio sources is easy. Latency is on the higher end, though, which isn't as ideal for watching videos. Some apps compensate for latency differently. If you want a portable speaker for watching videos that synchronizes audio and video better, check out the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4.