Short answer: the JBL Flip 7, if you are buying new. The JBL Flip 5 ranks higher than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 (#81 vs #110 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the JBL Flip 7, is rated 4.2/5 at $89.95 and is still sold new.
The JBL Flip 5 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Compact and light (1.1 lb) with a carry lanyard. Its bass reaches about 59Hz before falling 10dB, against 76Hz for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 92dB at full volume, against 87dB for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 cannot. Watch for: Boosted upper bass.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is the lighter option. IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. At 0.9 lbs (420 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Flip 5 at 1.2 lbs (540 g). Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the JBL Flip 7, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Flip 5; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 5 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.97 Discontinued | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #81 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #110 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | 76Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 200ms | 166ms |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 87dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (540 g) | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm fullrange | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.9” (181 x 69 x 74 mm) | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (via JBL app, sunsetted in 2024) | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| App | Yes | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | - |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Flip 5 compares with other leading options:
- EarFun Uboom L vs JBL Flip 5
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Flip 5
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Flip 5
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Flip 5
- Minirig 4 vs JBL Flip 5
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Flip 5: $64.97 Discontinued Amazon $64.97 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip 7, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5, released Mar 2025.
Older model: the JBL Flip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every JBL Flip generation.
Pros: Compact and light (1.1 lb) with a carry lanyard. Charges via USB-C, topping off in about 2.5 hours. IP67 rated. Measured bass extension of 59Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Released | Jul 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (via JBL app, sunsetted in 2024) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (540 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: UE Wonderboom 2 review and sound test - vs Flip 5 - Flip 4 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs JBL Flip 5 & Soundcore Boost - true stereophonic 🤓
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Pro - two versions compared - was it broken? 🤔
- 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? More from DLXWillington →
- Techder Audios: #JBL Flip 5 VS #JBL Flip Essential "IMPRESSIVE COMPARISON!?" More from techderaudios →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Flip 7 Review - Is It Worth Upgrading Over The JBL Flip 6 Or Flip 5? More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: $79.99 Amazon $79.99 eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5, released Jun 2024.
Older models: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5) and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5). See every Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Boom and Megaboom generation.
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. 14 hour battery: longer than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. Measured bass extension of 76Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. Boosted 93Hz upper bass. Cuts bass heavily at high volume. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2022. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 76Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: The biggest upgrade since time began! 💪 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but………..
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Flip 6 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 (Indoor Mode)⚔️ Battle of the Handheld Bluetooth Speakers. More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Danny Pops: Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker? Wonderboom 3 VS Sony XB-13 More from DannyPops →
- YouTube Review
- YouTube: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Anker Soundcore Mini 2 Sound Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Soundcore 2
- See all 76 comparisons