JBL is back with updated versions of two of its most popular Bluetooth speakers: the Flip 7 and Charge 6. This time around, the company has focused on better sound, longer battery life, and new connectivity options. Whether you're taking your music to the backyard, the beach, or a road trip, these speakers come with some interesting upgrades—including AI-powered audio tuning, lossless USB-C playback, and an even tougher waterproof design.
One of the biggest changes to both the Flip 7 and Charge 6 is AI Sound Boost. This feature adjusts the speaker’s performance in real time, tweaking the bass and treble to keep things clear and distortion-free, even at higher volumes.
The Flip 7 now has an upgraded tweeter, which should help deliver crisper highs and clearer sound overall. Meanwhile, the Charge 6 gets a bigger woofer, meaning deeper bass and a richer listening experience.
Another interesting addition is USB-C audio—something you don’t often see in portable Bluetooth speakers. Instead of relying on a Bluetooth connection (which compresses audio), you can plug the speaker directly into your phone, tablet, or laptop for full lossless sound quality. However, this feature won’t be available at launch—JBL says it’ll come in a future firmware update, but there’s no exact timeline yet.
If you hate running out of battery mid-playlist, JBL has some good news.
Both speakers also introduce Playtime Boost, a battery-saving mode that extends playtime without lowering the volume. The catch? It turns off any custom equalizer settings, so it’s more about getting extra hours of music rather than fine-tuning the sound.
JBL has upgraded the water and dust protection on both models. They now have an IP68 rating, meaning they can survive full submersion in water and handle dust and sand better than before.
Portability has also improved:
Both speakers now use Bluetooth 5.4, which improves connection stability and wireless range. JBL has also switched to Auracast, its new multi-speaker pairing system. If you want to sync multiple JBL speakers together, they’ll need to support Auracast—older JBL PartyBoost speakers won’t be compatible.
“With the addition of Flip 7 and Charge 6, JBL is not just launching new products, we’re immersing ourselves in the heart of cultural moments with our presence at SXSW,” said Carsten Olesen, President, Consumer Audio at HARMAN.
“Designed to tap into the limitless places listeners go to experience incredible sound, the introduction of AI Sound Boost highlights our dedication to delivering dynamic solutions that shape the soundtrack of consumers’ lives.”
The JBL Flip 7 and Charge 6 are available for pre-order now, with official shipping starting April 6, 2025. Here’s how they’re priced:
Both models come in black, blue, white, red, camo, and purple.
If you already have a Flip 6 or Charge 5, you might be wondering if it’s worth upgrading. The answer? It depends on what you care about most.
If you’re all about longer battery life, better bass, and stronger waterproofing, then the new models bring some solid improvements. Plus, features like USB-C audio (once it gets enabled) and multi-speaker pairing with Auracast might be a game-changer for some.
But if you’re happy with your current speaker and don’t feel the need for these extras, you’re not missing out on anything huge. The Flip 6 and Charge 5 are still great speakers, and you might even find them at a discount now that the new versions are out.
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