Speaker pick
Flip 7 or Charge 6? Here's How I'd Choose
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If I was buying a portable speaker today, I'd start with a simple question: is it going to live in the living room, or come with me? The JBL Charge 6 and Flip 7 are the same idea — waterproof Bluetooth speakers with a woofer and a tweeter — in two sizes.
My pick for the house: JBL Charge 6
SpeakersJBL Charge 6Check price on Amazon- Up to 24 hoursPlus 4 more with Playtime Boost
- Power bankCharges phones, not laptops
- IP68Waterproof and dustproof
- About 2.1 lb9.0 × 3.9 × 3.7 in
- Bluetooth 5.4Auracast multi-speaker
- USB-CIn and out
Why the Charge 6
- It lasts a long listening night. JBL rates it at up to 24 hours of playtime, plus 4 more with Playtime Boost — actual time depends on volume and what's playing.
- It charges your phone. The built-in power bank is the difference that matters at home. It will not charge a laptop.
- It's the bigger cabinet. A larger woofer and tweeter (30 W + 15 W RMS) than the Flip 7, in a speaker that's still easy to carry.
Want something smaller? Get the Flip 7.
The Flip 7 is the grab-and-go version. Same IP68 rating, same Bluetooth 5.4 and Auracast, in a smaller shell you can toss in a bag. JBL rates it at up to 14 hours of playtime, plus 2 more with Playtime Boost. It does not have a power bank. A carabiner comes in the box.
- Up to 14 hoursPlus 2 more with Playtime Boost
- About 1.82 lb7.2 × 2.7 × 2.8 in
- IP68Waterproof and dustproof
- No power bankUSB-C for charging the speaker
Quick comparison
| Flip 7 | Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size and weight | About 7.2 × 2.7 × 2.8 in, 1.82 lb | About 9.0 × 3.9 × 3.7 in, 2.1 lb |
| Playtime | Up to 14 hours, plus 2 with Playtime Boost | Up to 24 hours, plus 4 with Playtime Boost |
| Power bank | No | Yes, for phones — not laptops |
| Durability | IP68, drop-rated from 1 meter | IP68, drop-rated from 1 meter |
| Best for | Bags, gifts, taking it with you | The house, a long night, charging a phone |
Who should get the Flip 7
Get the Flip 7 if you want the smaller speaker, you're giving it as a gift, or you don't need a power bank. If it was going to live in the living room and I could only buy one, I'd still get the Charge 6.
A couple of caveats
The IP68 rating is a lab test for freshwater up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Rinse it off after salt water, and don't charge it while it's wet. JBL doesn't pack a USB-C cable with either speaker.
Starting a record setup? Either speaker can play a Bluetooth turntable. See the beginner turntable pick.