Since 2012 there’s been only one true go-to portable Bluetooth speaker that checks all the boxes for sound quality, durability, and ease of use, and that’s JBL’s Flip series. JBL could easily have rested on its laurels any time since the debut of the Flip 1, but their constant updates and innovations and improvements have brought us to the latest and greatest of the line, the Flip 7, which is on sale for just $110 right now at Amazon.
The familiar cylindrical shape of the Flip is unchanged with the 7 — it still fits in a cup holder, a side pocket, or a beach bag — but the internals and durability story got a genuine overhaul. This is the Flip that JBL built to hold up to actual outdoor use, not just the occasional splash. It has an interchangeable finger loop and carabiner hook for vastly improved on-the-go capability, and AI Sound Boost delivers amazingly powerful bass and crisp, clear upper notes.
Big Little Sound Machine
The sound output of the Flip 7 jumps to 35 watts through a 2-way speaker system, and JBL’s new AI Sound Boost dynamically adjusts the audio profile based on what’s playing. The Flip 7 handles high-volume outdoor playback without the harsh edge that plagues lesser Bluetooth speakers. The Flip 7’s battery life lands at 14 hours, with a Playtime Boost mode that stretches it to 16 by trimming the output ceiling slightly — useful when you’re hours from a USB-C charger and just need the music to keep going.
The other hallmark of the JBL Flip series has always been its toughness and durability. The Flip 7 brings that to another level — it’s IP68 waterproof and dustproof, and can even withstand up to 30 minutes of being fully submersed in up to 5 feet of fresh water. JBL also added drop protection rated to 3.3 feet — a first for the Flip line. That combination shifts this from “be careful around the pool” to “bring it anywhere and stop thinking about it,” which is exactly the point of a portable speaker.
Bring Your Friends
Two features separate the Flip 7 from the competition in less obvious ways. Auracast support lets multiple Flip 7 speakers sync audio without pairing to each other individually — they all receive the same broadcast, which means you can fill a backyard or a beach with synchronized sound with a daisy chain of Flip 7s. The USB-C input also supports lossless audio, so wired playback from a phone or laptop skips Bluetooth compression entirely.
It might be a little early to hit the pool or head for the park in much of the country, but those days of fun outdoor gatherings are coming quickly. Be prepared and save 27% by heading to Amazon and bringing home the peerless JBL Flip 7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for just $110.