Bose SoundLink Color II
Score: 71/100
JBL Flip 5
Score: 78/100Rankings
The JBL Flip 5 is a compact cylindrical Bluetooth speaker delivering 20 W RMS of powerful sound and a 12-hour battery life. Its older Bluetooth 4.2 and lack of a guaranteed dust-proof rating are notable trade-offs. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking lightweight, waterproof audio.
The Bose SoundLink Color II is a compact, splash-resistant speaker featuring NFC pairing, built-in mic, and low-latency Bluetooth. Its shallow bass, modest volume, and limited 8-hour battery life constrain its use in larger settings. Suited for casual listeners who value portability and quick pairing.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
8 hours | 12 hoursbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 540 gbest | 540 gbest |
— | 44 mmbest | |
— | 4,800 mAhbest | |
— | 20 Wbest | |
9 mbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 150 minutesbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 8 hours | 12 hours |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 133×127×57 mm mm | 73.66×68.58×180.34 mm mm |
IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the SoundLink Color II for its pocket-size portability, robust Bluetooth performance with low latency, and rugged IPX4 silicone build. However, they consistently note that the acoustic performance is average, with weak bass extension, rolled-off treble and limited SPL, making it less suitable for listeners who prioritize deep, powerful sound.
Everyday users love how easy it is to toss the speaker into a bag and take it to the pool or gym, praising its splash resistance, simple controls and reliable Bluetooth. The most common criticisms revolve around thin bass, muted mids/treble and occasional pairing glitches, especially when trying to use multiple devices.
Professional reviewers and editors consistently praise the Flip 5 for its punchy bass, room-filling sound, rugged IPX7 waterproofing and long 12-hour battery, while also highlighting PartyBoost as a useful party-link feature; the main criticism centers on its older Bluetooth 4.2 stack and the absence of a guaranteed dust-proof rating.
Everyday customers echo the professional sentiment, lauding the speaker's portability, strong bass, waterproof durability and easy pairing, though some note occasional Bluetooth connectivity quirks and wish for clearer dust-proof specifications.
