JBL has been striving to improve speaker quality for over a century, and one thing that I can say for sure is that the quality has only risen above and beyond with every year.
They have dominated the speaker market, creating portable, professional, and party speakers.
Headphones and soundbars are also among their portfolio, and they have recently dived into the gaming world with a variety of high-quality headsets.
However, today I am going to be focusing on two Bluetooth speakers - Flip 4 and Charge 4.
Bluetooth speakers have the power to make or break a party, so having a good one on deck is paramount for showing your guests a good time.
JBL is without a doubt one of the best brands to purchase a speaker from, so let’s keep this within the family.
However, which of their impressive creations will you choose?
Within this article, I’m going to attempt to make the choice a little easier for you. Let’s get the party started!
JBL Flip 4 vs JBL Charge 4
First, let’s take a quick look into each of the speakers and what they do.
The Flip 4 connects to two sources with Bluetooth at a time and plays out the amazing sound quality.
The battery is impressively strong and the speaker is waterproof, which is excellent for pool parties.
Charge 4 is the more expensive of the two speakers with longer battery life.Comparing the Features
Both speakers from JBL have an impressive amount of features to showcase, and I was impressed with every single one.
Below I’ll be comparing the two speakers in terms of important features such as durability, quality, and design.
Speakers are not inexpensive, so you’re going to need to make sure that you’re getting the best option for you. Below is where I aim to help you find the best speaker for you.
Sound Quality
Let’s start with the sound quality. When purchasing a speaker, it doesn’t matter if the exterior is durable or looks nice if the music itself sounds like it’s being played underwater.
It's easy to fall into the trap of purchasing a cheap speaker only to find out that the sound quality was dire, so don’t make the same mistake twice.
JBL likes to focus on the low-frequency sounds; however, Flip 4 and Charge 4 do not stick to the status quo.
Although you can get a nice sound from both when playing hip hop music, the bass is not the main priority from these speakers.
If you love bassy music and want to get the most out of the lower frequencies as possible, you should go for Charge 4 as it slightly has the edge.
Emphasis on the word slightly. However, if you don’t care too much about bass and just want a well-rounded, high-quality sound, Flip 4 will do you just fine.
Design
Both Flip 4 and Charge 4 are rounded speakers, offering you excellent sound quality all the way around.
This is a great feature that allows everyone to hear the music no matter what side of the speaker they are on. I really enjoy this aspect.
Charge 4 is larger than Flip 4, so whether you want a larger or smaller speaker is up to you. The former also weighs more at 2.12 pounds.
Flip 4 weighs only 1.14 pounds, so it can be classed as more portable and user-friendly.
However, the smaller size does mean that Flip 4 is quieter than Charge 4.
If you’re someone who really cares about blaring music you might prefer to choose the latter due to the higher volume and sound distance traveled.
Flip 4 measures in at 6.89 x 2.76 x 2.68 inches and Charge 4 9.84 x 4.33 x 5.75 inches.
Moving onto the colors, Flip 4 comes in nine colors and patterns while Charge 4 comes in 12.
The majority of the colors are similar so you’re bound to find your favorite no matter which speaker you decide upon.
Battery Life
The battery life is another important factor that you should consider. There is nothing worse than enjoying your favorite track on the beach when it suddenly cuts off due to the battery.
Flip 4 offers up to 12 hours of battery life with every full charge. The charging time is 3.5 hours.
Alternatively, Charge 4 can be used for up to 20 hours without having to be recharged. The charging time is higher than Flip 4 at 5.5 hours.
As you can see, Charge 4 takes the lead with how long the battery lasts on one single charge.
However, it might be just me but I have never personally needed to use our speaker for over 12 hours at one time.
So, unless you’re planning on a music bender in which you need continuous music playing at all times, I think that Flip 4 will suit most people just fine.
Moreover, Flip 4 offers a shorter charging time and therefore can be unplugged and used much quicker than Charge 4 can.
An interesting feature of Charge 4 is that it can be used as a power bank as well as a speaker. It can charge your devices while in use, which Flip 4 cannot.
Durability
Both Flip 4 and Charge 4 are waterproof and built to last. The speakers are protected with insulation made from rubber and fabric, and they’re sure to withstand a drop or two.
So, there is not much difference between these two speakers when it comes to their durability.
However, the charging ports are another story. Flip 4 comes with a micro-USB port and Charge 4 with a USB-C.
The latter is generally considered the more durable of the two, but that doesn’t always mean anything when it comes to charging leads.
Both leads can bend and snap out of shape if they’re not looked after, but USB-C is the better of the two.
Having said that, JBL does offer a one-year warranty for both of the speakers in case something does unexpectedly falter on you.
Connectivity
You can connect two smartphones or tablets to both Flip 4 and Charge 4. The latter allows these devices to charge your devices as the music is playing.
You can also connect both of these speakers to other JBL devices that contain Connect + capabilities.
In fact, the speakers can both connect to up to 100 of these devices.
So, if you wanted to create a monster sound system that could blow your entire house away, feel free to buy 100 devices and create your own Frankenstein speaker.
Portability
As I’ve mentioned before, the Flip 4 speaker weighs less and therefore can be considered more portable.
However, Charge 4 only weighs around one pound heavier than Flip 4. This means that it is still very portable and can be carried around with you wherever you may go.
So, I wouldn’t consider there to be a clear winner when it comes to the portability of the speaker. You can carry them both around without much hassle.
However, Flip 4 comes with a wristband that can be used to easily carry the speaker.
Added Accessories
Don’t expect to get many added accessories with these speakers. In fact, you’ll only be getting the speaker itself with the charging cable.
As I’ve already mentioned, Flip 4 comes with a micro-USB which is considered more difficult and fiddly than the USB-C on the Charge 4 speaker.
A micro-USB can be used only in one way whereas the USB-C can be inserted into the speaker any which way. This means that the charging cable can be easily slotted in without the potential damage.
So, Which is Better?
The speaker that you choose will be down to your personal preferences and situation.
Flip 4 is smaller and therefore more portable than the Charge 4 speaker, but the latter offers a louder sound without the need for additional speakers.
Both speakers in question offer excellent sound quality. Charge 4 is slightly better for bass-heavy music such as pop and hip hop, so you might prefer one or the other depending on your music taste.
The designs on both are innovative and come in a variety of colors, Charge 4 offering more choice for those of you who enjoy a bit of color in your lives.
Flip 4 can be charged quicker than Charge 4, but the latter can last up to eight hours longer than the former speaker.
Overall, JBL does not disappoint with either the Flip 4 or the Charge 4 speakers, and both would make fine additions to the party.
If you want a more impressive speaker that is louder and better for the bass, Charge 4 is the way to go.
However, if you are looking for a small yet mighty speaker, you can’t go wrong with the Flip 4 model.
