Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini for better sound quality, the JBL Flip 5 for the lower price. The Bose Soundlink Mini ranks #56 of 136 medium speakers at $128.67. The JBL Flip 5 ranks #62 at $89.95, $38.72 cheaper.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Set against that: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others.
What the JBL Flip 5 gets right: Compact and light (1.1 lb) with a carry lanyard. Charges via USB-C, topping off in about 2.5 hours. The catch: Not stereo. Boosted upper bass. Piercing sound when turned up. Peaky lower treble at higher volumes.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Flip 5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Flip 5 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose Soundlink Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | JBL Flip 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $128.67 Discontinued | $89.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #56 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #62 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 1.2 lbs / 540 g |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.9" (181 x 69 x 74 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | - |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | - |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1x 44x80mm fullrange |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 200ms |
| Max Volume | - | 92dB |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | - | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 20W RMS |
| EQ | - | Yes (via JBL app, sunsetted in 2024) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Flip 4 vs JBL Charge 2
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs JBL Flip 4
- JBL Charge 4 vs Beats Pill 2024
- JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Flip Essential
- JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Flip 5
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Mini: $128.67 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Flip 5: $89.95 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Compact and light (1.1 lb) with a carry lanyard. Charges via USB-C, topping off in about 2.5 hours. IP67 rated.
Cons: Not stereo. Boosted upper bass. Piercing sound when turned up. Peaky lower treble at higher volumes. Discontinued.
Full JBL Flip 5 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 200ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.9" (181 x 69 x 74 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (via JBL app, sunsetted in 2024) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 540 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beoplay A1 Denon 250bt JBL Flip 5 Anker Flare 2
- DLX Willington: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 4 :Sound Battle: Almost to the size of the JBL Charge 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus
- Techder Audios: #JBL Flip 5 VS #JBL Flip Essential “IMPRESSIVE COMPARISON!?”
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs JBL Flip 5 & Soundcore Boost - true stereophonic 🤓
- Reddit Search for JBL Flip 5 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons