JBL Flip 4 vs UE Wonderboom - The Kings of The Beach
Today, I will compare two excellent outdoor and beach speakers the JBL Flip 4 and the UE Wonderboom.
Both are waterproof, portable units with a solid, rugged body, so let’s find out which one is the better choice in this JBL Flip 4 vs UE Wonderboom full comparison.
Bluetooth range
Battery life
Water protection
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
Bluetooth range:
- 200 feet
Battery life:
- 70% volume: 6 hours 40 minutes
- Maximum volume: 3 hours 10 minutes
Water protection:
- IPX7
- Completely waterproof, it can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water for 30 minutes
Pros:
- Long Bluetooth range
- Durable design
- Water protection
- Nice, balanced sound
Cons:
- No track navigation buttons
Bottom line:
From the two, the JBL Flip 4 is the clear winner with its audio input port, longer Bluetooth range, battery life, and better sound quality.
Bluetooth range:
- 115 feet
Battery life:
- 70% volume: 6 hours 40 minutes
- Maximum volume: 2 hours
Water protection:
- IP67 certification
- It can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water for 30 minutes
- It is dustproof
Pros:
- Rugged, sturdy design
- Shockproof, IP67 water protection
- Floats on the water
Cons:
- Uncontrolled, boosted bass
- No audio input port
Bottom line:
While in some aspects the Wonderboom lacks behind the Flip 4, it comes with a lower price and it provides great value for this price.
Price
From the two, the Flip 4 is the larger and more expensive model.
Both speakers come in a quality paper box with only a micro USB cable included.
In terms of colors, you have several options, the Flip 4 comes in 6 different colors while the Wonderboom is available in 11 color options.
Click here to check the current price of the JBL Flip 4
Click here to check the current price of the UE Wonderboom
You can find the reviews of the speakers here:
The Design
Taking the speakers in hand, they feel solid and premium, their build quality is excellent.
While their basic shape and design are different, you can also spot several mutual points like the durable mesh fabric coverage or the rubberized plastic elements at the ends.
Undoubtedly, the most signature design elements of the Flip 4 are the two external passive radiators, which look great while moving to the beats of the songs.
By the Wonderboom, the two large volume buttons on the front ensure the stylish look.
Both are born outdoor speakers, what you can toss into a bag without worrying about dents and scratches.
Music Control
In terms of music control, the speakers provide a limited music control capability, so you can pause/play a song and jump to the next track, however, you cannot go back to the previously played song or forward/backward in a song.
It’s worth to mention that the control buttons of the Flip 4 are much better and clickier, they are hard to press by the Wonderboom.
One advantage of the Flip 4 over the Wonderboom that it has a built-in microphone, so it can be used as a speakerphone to answer phone calls.
This feature can come especially handy when you use the speaker in a pool far from your phone.
Attachment Option
To make it more portable the JBL Flip 4 got a shoelace style lanyard which can be used to attach the speaker to anything and gives an extra security wearing it on your wrist.
The Wonderboom comes with an elastic hook on its top, which can be used to hang the speaker or attach it to a carabiner but I think the solution of the Flip 4 is more versatile and useful.
Water Protection
The JBL Flip 4 got an IPX7 water protection which means it is completely waterproof and can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water for 30 minutes.
The UE Wonderboom got an IP67 protection, which means it is not just completely waterproof but also officially protected against dust.
To ensure the water protection the ports are covered by a waterproof flap by both speakers.
The flaps seal correctly and easy to open and close by both speakers but by the Wonderboom the charging port lies a bit too deep in the device, so it is hard to connect the cable to it.
One advantage of the Wonderboom that unlike the Flip 4, it floats on the water, so you do not have to worry if you accidentally drop it in.
That’s why if you are looking for something for water sports it can be a better option.
Connectivity, Bluetooth range
In my outdoor test, I measured 115 feet Bluetooth range by the UE Wonderboom and 200 feet range by the JBL Flip 4.
So the Flip 4 has a much longer range, however, the range of the Wonderboom is also decent, likely you will not have a connectivity problem with any of the speakers.
The Flip 4 features an audio jack input port while the Wonderboom does not, so it is worth to bear in mind if you plan to connect the speaker via a cable.
If you have two devices from both models, you can connect them together for an amplified sound.
However, the Flip 4 is more powerful in terms of this, the Wonderboom cannot be connected with other types of UE speakers and does not support stereo mode.
Battery Life
In my tests, when I played various types of songs on the speakers at 70% volume, I measured exactly the same 6 hours 40 minutes play time by both speakers.
Repeating the same test at maximum volume, I got 2 hours play time by the Wonderboom and 3 hours 10 minutes play time by the Flip 4.
So the Flip 4 wins here, although they have a pretty similar battery life.
JBL Flip 4 vs UE Wonderboom Sound Test
Under the hood, the Wonderboom has two drivers and two passive radiators arranged to provide an omnidirectional sound.
The Flip 4 has also two drivers and two external passive radiators but its sound is directional, you get the best sound quality if you sit in front of the speaker.
The sound of the speakers is clear and distortion free; my only problem with the Wonderboom that by some songs its bass is getting uncontrolled and it can overpower other frequencies.
Comparing their sound, the Flip 4 has more highs and deeper lows, so in terms of sound quality the Flip 4 is the better choice, however, the Wonderboom performs pretty well considering its size and price.
Conclusion
Overall, I think both speakers are a great option if you are looking for a durable rugged outdoor speaker.
From the two, the JBL Flip 4 is the clear winner with its audio input port, longer Bluetooth range, battery life, and better sound quality, but it is not a surprise considering it is the more expensive device.
The Wonderboom also performed very well during my tests and I think it provides an excellent value for its price.
Click here to check the current price of the JBL Flip 4
Click here to check the current price of the UE Wonderboom
You can find the reviews of the speakers here:
Alternatives
One notable alternative is the Tribit XBoom which provides similar functionalities as the Flip 4 but for a lower price.
If you are looking for something which is even more portable, then the Bose SoundLink Micro can be an excellent choice.
It is a compact but massive outdoor speaker which of course lacks behind in terms of maximum volume and bass production but considering its very small size it has an outstanding sound quality.
From the Sony’s line-up, the Sony XB21 is the direct competitor of the Flip 4.
On top of the durable body and water protection it comes with a light effect and NFC chip, however, it has a slightly weaker sound quality and a relatively short battery life.
