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JBL Flip 5 £90
When it upgraded the Flip 4 in 2020 to produce this Flip 5, JBL binned the analogue aux-in port and the microphone to make this a pared-down Bluetooth (4.2) speaker – albeit one with a USB-C charging port and cable. This port allows a charging time of 2.5 hours – an hour quicker than the Flip 4. Battery life remains unchanged at a claimed 12 hours.
Waterproof test
JBL claims the Flip 5 is waterproof to an IPX7 rating. This means you should be able to submerge it in water at a depth of one metre for 30 minutes. There’s no cover for the USB-C charging port and though it is waterproofed, it isn’t tested against salt or sand ingress at the beach.
We test the JBL’s resolve by filling our sink with water and submerging the unit for a few minutes. Music plays throughout and it soon dries off when we take it out. Nothing has been compromised and all is well.