I just tested the JBL Flip 7 — is it the best compact Bluetooth speaker yet?

Wander into any tech shop, and scores of the best Bluetooth speakers line whole aisles. They’re small, versatile, and often excellent value for money, and manufacturers face a cruel cycle of delivering innovation and sound quality while keeping prices down in this highly competitive audio segment.

I recently went hands-on with JBL’s mid-range Flip 7, successor to the Flip 6, and it has humongous shoes to fill. The Flip 6 was extremely well-received and struck an impressive balance with its portability and sonic performance.

So can the Flip 7 build on its success? Or is this one speaker that’ll be overshadowed by its Bose, Sonos, Ultimate Ears, and Marshall brethren?

JBL Flip 7 review: Price & availability

The Flip 7 is available from JBL.com for the reasonable sum of $149. It represents great value for money for such a compact speaker, perfect for those looking for a balance of great sound quality without wanting to drop $400 on a high-end model.

JBL Flip 7 review: design and build

The Flip 7 doesn’t stray too far from the form factor of JBL’s mainline Bluetooth speakers, like the Grip, Charge, and its predecessor, the Flip 6, with a tubular design and a slightly bulbous middle. It’s a more rugged, casual look, replete with the large and bold JBL logo on the front, so if you’re looking for something a little more elegant, you could go for something like the Sonos Roam 2.

The large can-sized boomer is still designed to be grabbed single-handedly, though it’s heftier than it looks. Thankfully, there’s a new PushLock system with interchangeable accessories, including a fabric looped strap and carabiner, for more secure carrying. Still, it’s fine for slipping into the side pocket of a backpack.

The grill comprises thick, interwoven fabric with rubber bumpers at the edges. There’s also a small rubber backstop, so it’s less prone to rollover when placed down.

The speaker also comes in a choice of seven colors, including Red, Pink, Blue, Black, White, Purple, and the camouflaged Squad.

Everything from the weightiness, fabric grill, and the solid rubber bumpers oozes quality, so while the Flip 7 isn’t the most subtle speaker around, you know you’re getting a good product just from holding it.

The speaker is absolutely ready to rough it up too, whether at the beach, the pool, or a bike trail. With its IP68 rating, it’s built to be protected against water and dust ingress, so it can shake off a tumble down a sand dune or fall into a hot tub and keep going.

New to the 7th-gen Flip is AI Sound Boost, which analyzes and optimizes speaker performance in real time, creating fuller audio at lower volumes and minimizing distortion when cranked up.

Another addition over the Flip 6 is lossless audio using a USB-C cable and a compatible platform, which is a boon for Spotify users enjoying its fairly new lossless service. Plus, its battery life has been tweaked up to 16 hours — 14 without the Playtime Boost option, which lessens the power draw from deeper bass notes.

Finally, JBL adds to its Auracast-compatible range with the Flip 7. This feature allows one device to broadcast to an unlimited number of other speakers without the standard Bluetooth pairing process.

JBL Flip 7 review: Controls & connectivity

Controls-wise, we have the usual power, playback, and volume buttons. I also adore the separate Bluetooth button, super handy for those who second-guess the varying pairing hoops speakers make you jump through — “was it the power button or both volume buttons?” An Auracast button also makes its debut on the Flip series, letting you connect compatible speakers quickly and with no fuss.

Like its forebears, the Flip 7 still lacks skip buttons, with those features embedded within the play button itself — skip ahead with a double press, go to the previous with a triple press.

The JBL Portable smartphone app is also there to coordinate proceedings, letting you select preset equalizer settings or customize your levels, while the Playtime Boost option extends your listening time at the cost of your bass power. You can also hook in another Flip 7 for stereo listening, though sadly, alternate JBL speaker models won’t work for this function.

JBL Flip 7 review: Sound quality

Sonically, the Flip 7 impressed me right from the outset. For a compact, mid-range boomer under $150, it performs like it was at least twice the price and twice the size. Thanks to its USB-C output, I was also able to test out non-compression playback via Spotify Lossless, which did not disappoint.

While so many sub-$100 speakers deliver reliably, with decent volume and bass, the Flip 7 rewrites the script on what’s possible with the portable variety. And while it’s easy to be skeptical of its AI SoundBoost feature, it does work. Even at low volumes, the bass rumble of The Prodigy’s Breathe pleasingly tickled my eardrums.

When you crank it up, every thud in Massive Attack’s Teardrop feels like a wallop to the ribcage, thanks to those visibly pulsing passive radiators and the woofer delivering that big sound that betrays the Flip 7’s smaller size.

Trebles and mids also feel detailed, complex, and well handled on the Flip 7. The haunting yet floaty notes of Alicia from the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack are rendered in crystal clear ethereal quality — at volume, I could really appreciate soprano Alice Duport-Percier’s emotional performance, clarity, and control. And that slinky yet eerie Latin percussion really cuts through in that first minute of Steely Dan’s Do It Again. In Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the complex and layered arrangement of synths, drums, guitars, and Vincent Price’s distinctive voiceover shines to great effect.

Only at the 85% volume does the bass start to buckle, but that level is honestly way more than you’d typically use (or find tolerable) in most settings. Speaking of bass, when plugged in with a USB-C for lossless playback, the speaker rested on my protruding cable instead of its rubber grip, and I’d find it spinning away on my desk when at high volume.

I was also itching to pair my JBL Grip with the Flip 7 to enable a proper stereo mode, but it’s a little disappointing that you need the exact model to unlock this feature. Still, I enjoyed using Auracast for wider coverage.

Naturally, the Flip 7’s smaller form factor has limitations — it won’t reproduce the lowest notes as there’s no subwoofer. It’s also still a mono speaker, so don’t expect much of a soundstage, though I’m seriously considering a second Flip for that stereo goodness.

As you might expect, this sadly isn’t the speaker for amping your laptop when streaming video or playing games. Its slower audio codecs mean voices and effects are delivered out of sync — not hugely, but noticeable enough to distract. Maybe we can have a low latency mode for the Flip 8?

JBL Flip 7 review: Battery life

The Flip 7 can go 14 hours (16 with Playtime Boost) between charges, which is respectable given its size and about accurate from my play testing. Still, it’s a middle of the pack stat for a Bluetooth speaker. Its bigger brother, the Charge 7, manages an impressive 24 hours of juice (28 with PlayBoost), so eking out even 2 or even 4 more hours would have earned it some extra credit.

JBL Flip 7 review: Verdict

Despite its already impressive speaker portfolio, JBL has cranked out another winner in the Flip 7. Vocals and trebles are detailed, crisp, and clean, while its bass performance is dynamic and carries plenty of punch for its size. Plus, its volume capabilities won’t leave you wanting more. Build quality is once again excellent, despite what we’ve come to expect from this major speaker manufacturer.

Even if you own a Flip 6, I’d argue the sonic and future-proofing upgrades of the Flip 7, namely the updated tweeter redesigned 16mm tweeter dome, lossless playback, and Auracast compatibility, make upgrading worth it.

Plus, it’s built like a rock, meaning it can survive dips and dunks in sand, dirt, and water, making it perfect for enjoying outdoors or in the backyard. And while the slightly aggressive design isn’t going to suit everyone — it’ll feel out of place at a dinner party — its rough and tumble readiness will be a big hit for many.

Finally, the Flip 7 cuts a swathe through much of the competition, even some of the more premium rivals — you’re getting a lot of speaker for your money here, so it’s a no-brainer.