JBL Flip 7 Review: The Portable Speaker Star Gets Even Better with AI

The little star of the portable speaker market enters its seventh generation. Following the sixth version, which sold over 20 million units since its 2021 launch, this model became available from 1st April 2025 at £150 (a £10 increase over the Flip 6). A genuine phenomenon, this model has won over listeners with its compact size and power, rather than sound quality sometimes prone to distortion. But the American company wants to remedy precisely this fault by incorporating a touch of artificial intelligence into its driver behaviour.

Before addressing the audio, a tour of its design and construction is in order. Firstly, this ultra-portable speaker gains a touch of weight, exceeding its predecessor in size (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) and mass (560 g, 10 g more). Entirely clad in synthetic mesh, it also features a small carrying strap to hang it wherever desired. A novelty: this strap can be detached thanks to the PushLock system and replaced by a carabiner supplied with the Flip 7.

You can thus attach it, for example, to a rucksack or on a boat during a sea trip to ensure you don't misplace it. All the more so since the speaker fears neither rain nor immersion, as it further increases its waterproofing by meeting the IP68 standard, which authorises submersion up to 1.5 m depth for 30 minutes. Be careful, however, if you're tempted to throw it in a swimming pool—the Flip 7 doesn't float at all.

The finish is refined and above all robust, with its soft rubber end caps allowing shock absorption and protecting the two passive radiators located on the sides. It can be placed horizontally but also vertically. In the latter case, the device sits slightly angled to better project sound—a detail of some importance.

Six buttons occupy positions on the speaker: volume + and -, play/pause, power, pairing, and a final one allowing you to twin it with other units. Whilst this was already possible previously, the manipulation is facilitated by the arrival of Bluetooth 5.4 compatible with LE Audio and supporting the Auracast system.

In theory, you can therefore twin it with another Flip 7 to obtain a stereo signal, but also other models from other brands equally compatible with Auracast. This choice certainly favours durability, as the speaker meets the latest standards here.

The JBL Portable application for controlling the speaker limits itself to a few possibilities. Four equalisation presets are offered, for example: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, plus a 7-band manual equaliser. It's through this application that you create a stereo group, but also activate Playtime Boost mode, which extends battery life to 16 hours according to the manufacturer, notably by reducing bass intensity.

Suffice to say, you rarely open this application once desired settings are configured. This limits possibilities but corresponds perfectly to the usage of this type of ultra-portable speaker.

Making a device of such reduced size sound properly always challenges manufacturers. We were therefore very curious to hear the results of improvements brought to this Flip 7. It thus houses a 10 W tweeter, an oval-shaped 25 W mid-bass driver, and two passive radiators at the ends. At the rear, its USB-C port permits not only charging but also connection to a smartphone, tablet, or computer to benefit from a lossless signal. Suffice to say this argument is primarily marketing, as we heard no difference from a Bluetooth connection.

The other question obviously concerned distortion produced at high volume. And sound volume there certainly is with this Flip 7! To limit the phenomenon, we thus rely on the AI Sound Boost system, already employed on the JBL Xtreme 4. This algorithm indeed anticipates driver movements to adapt power response—a means, according to JBL, of maintaining optimal sound quality at elevated volume.

And one must admit this proves rather effective, at least up to 75% of volume, already a substantial level. Beyond that, no miracles occur, but the progress already deserves praise compared to what the Flip 6 offered—a poor performer in this regard.

What strikes most initially is the power of the bass, faithful to JBL's usual signature. They're very prominent and thus somewhat overshadow the overall sonic balance. But for a model destined to be used notably outdoors, this choice proves appreciable—and always impressive given the speaker's size.

Despite this low-frequency emphasis, the Northridge, California manufacturer doesn't neglect the rest of the spectrum. The midrange is equally well managed and delivers warm vocals. Whilst the treble doesn't quite snap as it should, it's nonetheless sufficient to avoid the impression of being drowned in the mass.

You'll have understood: the Flip 7 is intended above all for music such as hip-hop or electronic rather than classical. Despite this, we experimented with connecting it to an Apple TV to use as a soundbar. A far-fetched idea initially, but the result proved quite astonishing, particularly concerning the very well-managed dynamics.

Finally, battery life was our second major question. Also announced as improved, it officially increases from 12 hours to 14 hours, and even 16 hours with Playtime Boost mode. It's therefore an excellent surprise that we measured in real-world conditions.

Using the Flip 7 at 25% of its volume, we could listen for 29 hours 22 minutes without needing to recharge! An excellent performance that will obviously be shorter if you push volume beyond 50%. But indoors in a reasonably sized room, limiting listening to around 25% proves perfectly sufficient.