JBL Flip 3 Review – The JBL Flip 3 Bluetooth Speaker
Summary
The JBL Flip 3 is one of the best outdoor bluetooth speakers of 2017 with an excellent combination of size, sound quality, loudness, bass response, splash proof and ruggedness. Where the JBL Flip 3 shines is the nice deep bass which this speaker produces – it features dual external passive radiators to accentuate the bass response, and features an incredible 3000mAH rechargeable battery which provides a whopping 10 hours of playtime per charge. In addition, the Flip 3 features a cool social mode which allows you to wireless connect up to 3 smartphones or bluetooth devices and play powerful, room-filing sound with deep and punchy bass. It even has a dedicated speakerphone which allows you to take calls on the Flip 3 with the touch of the button. Overall, the JBL Flip 3 is a phenomenal outdoor bluetooth speaker and definitely an outdoor speaker worth checking out.
Pros & Cons
The Pros. The JBL Flip 3 is a great speaker for outdoor junkies and is able to pump out some serious volume and music performance even in the toughest of all conditions. The speaker is designed specifically to be extremely hardy and is certified splash-proof for you to take it by the pool or beach. The speaker is also very portable and lightweight, and can be carried or attached to a backpack using a carabiner clip. Although the Flip 3 is slightly on the expensive side, you really get value for money and very decent sound performance for a speaker designed for the outdoors.
The Cons. The charging port feels flimsy and connects via micro USB. You should not use too much strength when connecting the micro USB to the charging port or risk breaking it. Furthermore, the speaker does not give you the option to skip tracks directly from the speaker – you have to control this from your mobile Bluetooth device.
Sound Performance
We were very surprised by the sound performance of the JBL Flip 3. It produces a very decent amount of bass and can go extremely loud, which is nice because you have the option to really crank this speaker up if ever needed. The sound can go as loud as the UE Boom speaker, does not have battery life issues of the Denon and does not have bloated bass. The sound profile is well-balanced, and the upper frequencies are slightly upfront with good bass for its size. The sound is simply incredible for such a compact speaker; indoors the sound fills a room easily and is also perfect for outdoor parties. You can even connect multiple JBL Flip 3s together through the JBL connect function and all connected speakers will play the same music from the same device. If you have been searching for a lower cost outdoor bluetooth speaker with great versatility and excellent sound performance, the JBL Flip 3 may be your answer.
Design
The design of the JBL Flip 3 is sleek, fashionable and well developed with great protection from the outdoor elements. The Flip 3 has two mini subwoofers on the side to give it very good sounding bass that feels deep and punchy. When tested outdoors, we felt that the bass was really decent and the highs and mids of songs not too overpowering and without distortion. It’s also compact enough so that you can take it on a hiking trip without having to worry about the weight load. The speaker is fully splash proof, which means that it will survive rain or spills; you can even clean it with running tap water – just don’t submerge it.
The Verdict?
The JBL Flip 3 is a really good speaker designed for outdoor enthusiasts and does deliver as promised. The JBL Flip 3 is designed to go extremely loud, and produces very decent (and surprisingly deep) bass for its compact size. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to music from the JBL Flip 3, and there were no noticeable dips in sound quality when connected via Bluetooth. It’s also fully equipped with a 10-hour long lasting battery life, together with the ability to take calls through its speakerphone – and is also partially waterproof, rugged and compact for outdoor usage. It’s really easy to bring the JBL Flip 3 outdoors and completely forget about damaging the speaker due to its hardy exterior design, and overall is a great sounding portable speaker. We give it a score of 8.5 out of 10.
Be sure to also check out our top picks for the best outdoor bluetooth speakers available at incredible discounted prices.