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There are hundreds of Bluetooth speakers on the market and they are sold almost everywhere you can buy electronics. Brands like Bose and Sony regularly make headlines for their wireless audio devices, but according to Consumer Reports (CR), the laurel for best cheap wireless speaker actually belongs to the $150 JBL Flip 7. This iconic design has been a staple of JBL speakers for several generations, and the latest iteration has a handful of new features and comes in six colors: Black, Blue, Red, Squad, Pink, and Purple.
The Flip 7 boasts an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, meaning it’s completely safe for pool parties or if you get caught in the rain. This is the first generation Flip to feature JBL’s PushLock design, making attaching its strap and carabiner easier than ever (no more threading a buckle strap). When it comes to sound quality, the Flip 7 offers a solid balance of highs and lows, with a little extra low-end to vibrate 808s and bass drums. While the speaker mixes stereo tracks to mono, you can pair a second Flip 7 for a proper stereo image.
When set to high volume, the Flip 7 can sound a bit distorted, and due to its front-facing speakers, sound detail can start to fade as you move toward the sides. That said, JBL’s AI Sound Boost feature automatically balances the sound profile to best match the music you’re listening to. Our friends at SoundGuys also praised the Flip 7’s customizable EQ in the JBL Portable app, which lets you further fine-tune the speaker to suit your audio preferences.
The JBL Flip 7 is a rugged Bluetooth speaker with plenty of features and customizations
Portability is the name of the game with most Bluetooth speakers, and the Flip 7 is as travel-friendly as it gets. It will fit most pockets and sleeves without issue, and its silicone bumpers should help protect it if you accidentally drop it. Unfortunately, the advertised battery life does not match the laboratory test results. RTINGS only measured 5.6 hours of playtime on a full charge, while SoundGuys clocked just over 6 hours before needing to recharge.
Apparently you can only achieve the advertised 16 hours of playback with Playtime Boost enabled, but at the lower end price. Sorry, bass fans. We should also mention that it is not ideal for movies, shows, and video games, mainly due to the high Bluetooth latency. It does, however, have a USB-C port and you can use it for wired playback, which can definitely help with lip syncing and other glitches. (An added bonus: You can listen to lossless tracks when connected via USB-C to a compatible host device.)
All things considered, we think CR is right in calling the JBL Flip 7 the best cheap, portable Bluetooth speaker. Oh, and at the time of writing, the Flip 7 was on sale for $100 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and a few other retailers. If you’re on the fence about buying one, this might be the perfect opportunity.
