Features:

  • Wirelessly connect up to 2 smartphones or tablets to the speaker and take turns playing impressive stereo sound
  • Built-in 3000mAh rechargeable li-ion battery Supports up to 12 hours of playtime
  • Ipx7 waterproof means no more worrying about rain or spills; you can even submerge flip 4 in water
  • JBL connect+ allows you to Link more than 100 JBL connect+ enabled speakers together to amplify the party
  • Dual external passive radiators demonstrate just how powerful your speaker is
JBL does it again

I am so fascinated how extremely great this speaker is for only a whopping 100$ dollars. I would buy this speaker for 300$. An absolute steal! Pros: -Great mid range and hi range -EXTREMELY LOUD!! -Waterproof ip7 -Easy to clean with running water -Amazing design -Very long battery life -Extreme compatibility Cons: -heavy bass will make the speaker quieter and makes a little bit of distortion (for rap music) but that is to be expected with a speaker of this size. Well done JBL

Best Speaker You Will Find At $100

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

Bluetooth Speaker Comparison -- 2017 Edition

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

for 100$ this is a great, great value

I transitioned from the bose sound link mini 2. I think it may not compare to the 200$+ speakers but....for 100$ this is a great, great value. I'm pretty particular with my speakers in general, but this was amazing for a 100$ value. Would highly recommend it.

I'm a fan.

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).

JBL Flip 4 Musing - My New #1

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.

Best Speaker at This Price Point

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.

Flip 3 (black) vs Flip 4 (blue)

I have both the Flip 3 and the 4 and will compare them on my review. I love the sound of both of them. The Flip 3 is a little bit smaller in size compare to the 4. In the photo the black one is the 3 and the blue one is the 4. Soundwise both sound really good and loud for the size. One con is the bass. Both need a little bit more bass but don't let that hold you back from buying one of these pretty speakers. The 4 sounds more balanced, clean and louder than the 3. Keep in mind the are where the 4 really wins is battery and waterproof. The 4 looks and feels more durable. Just for the battery I would fork the 20 dollars more for the Flip 4. The 3 last me 3 hours and 40 minutes at full volume. The 4 last me easily 6 to 8 hours at full volume. Now at half volume you could listen at least 8 to 10 hours on the Flip 3. On the 4 half volume you would be listening alsmot two days straight with the 4. Both speakers are amazing quality but in my honest opinion I would go for the Flip 4 for the battery and more balanced louder sound. Hope my review helps you in your purchased.

Simply amazing little speaker.

I purchased mine Saturday night and had it in hand Monday morning, (I kind of cheated. I work for the USPS, so I was able to intercept mine before it went out for delivery) so huge props for rapid shipping. As I mentioned, I work for the USPS as a mail carrier, and I wanted a decent speaker to listen to music and audiobooks while delivering my route. Mail trucks are not at all quiet inside. Road noise is horrible and the bumps and bangs of the suspension are quite loud. The engines engines typically sound like someone dumped a box of ball bearings into an old blender. All in all, not a very listener-friendly environment. Regardless, this relatively small speaker (roughly the size of a 16-18 ounce soda can) powers through the ambient noise and is clear and loud. Very solid bass for such a small platform. I started my route of about 5.75 hours of road time, fully charged, and at the end of the day, it was at about 80% charge. I love this thing. It even fits in my drink holder in the truck.

Stop searching - 95% perfect speaker

This summer I needed a new BT speaker and I tried a bunch of them in this size range and this one is by far my favorite. It's about 95% perfect, which is about 50% better than all the others I tried. It sounds AMAZING - it's among the loudest of the bunch, and it definitely has some of the best bass of them all thanks to the TWO side-mounted bass radiators. It sounds better than all of the cheaper models, as well as better than most of the more expensive models. Probably the SONOS and Bose Soundlink Mini sound better, but they are considerably more expensive and are not waterproof. That's the thing - the FLIP 4 checks pretty much every box except two, which are relatively minor flaws. I wanted something rugged, with a decent battery, good controls, great sound, and that was not too bulky. Probably what we are all looking for. PROS: Form factor - the beer-can size and shape is the best for carrying around. The attached lanyard makes it even better, as you can hang it or swing it. Sound - incredibly rich, best-in-class bass, and great definition all around. Gets loud, too. Build quality - this thing is waterproof and dustproof, and feels pretty indestructibe BT controls/features - easy-to-use buttons control volume, music, and speakerphone, as well as letting you link multiple JBL speakers. Newest BT version (4.2) Battery - lasts all day, supposedly 12 hours, but varies by usage - and I've yet to have a problem CONS: No REW/Previous track. This is what bothers me the most, I just don't understand why this isn't implemented somewhere. Directional, rather than 360-degree sound. Not sure if I care. Other speakers I compared this to were the Marley Chant, two different iHome speakers, an old Bose Soundlink Mini, a Philips Shoqbox, something by OutdoorTech, a Magnavox speaker, and the UE Boom2. I also spent way too much time researching other models online. All of them had more shortcoming than this one - most just sounded worse or were underpowered, many were not waterproof or had lousy batteries, or no music controls. Only a few let you link multiple speakers together. The speaker I bought first was the UE BOOM 2, because it gets the best reviews. It costs at least $50 more than this and does not sound as clear. It is a little more stylish I guess, and has a similar app to the JBL and is well supported by firmware and software updates. However, it uses a stupid "tap" system to pause and FF (also no REW) that rarely worked. The JBL has nice big buttons that work great. Dedicated volume buttons control speaker/source volume, and double-pressing the play button skips a track. I would LOVE a REW feature, a triple tap would do it, but I can ultimately live without it. Ultimately, the UE BOOM 2 was not worth the extra money - it sounded worse in most situations (it was possibly louder and has 360-degree sound), and was infuriating to control. None of the cheaper speakers sounded better than this. There was one, the MagicBox I think, that was louder than all of them and has awesome buttons for volume and music, but it's not waterproof at all. The Fugoo looks amazing but it is only 6 Watts total, which is never going to be loud enough for anything other than a personal speaker. There are bigger speakers out there that have additional features like external charging and last for 24 hours at a time and pump out considerably more decibels, but they are also too big to fit my needs. Honestly this one is nearly perfect, and maybe they can add REW in the future via an update and get it 100% right.

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