Short answer: the JBL Flip 6. It ranks #13 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $79.95 and is still sold new; the Bose SoundLink Color II ranks #125 (rated 2.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The JBL Flip 6 is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size, a huge sound quality leap over the JBL Flip 5. It is rated for 12 hours of battery against 8 for the Bose SoundLink Color II. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Bose SoundLink Color II. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Color II lacks. Watch for: Some slight upper mids emphasis.
What the Bose SoundLink Color II does well: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Flip 6. Watch for: Boosted bass on Color II.
Buy the JBL Flip 6. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Bose SoundLink Color II is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 6 | Bose SoundLink Color II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.95 | $139.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #125 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (544 g) | 1.3 lbs (600 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (176 x 68 x 72 mm) | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 44mm x 80mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
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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 6: $79.95 Amazon $114.95 Woot $79.95 Lowest eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip 7, ranked lower, rated 4.2/5, released Mar 2025. It adds USB audio input, but drops stereo pairing. Water resistance goes from IP67 to IP68.
Older models: the JBL Flip 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the JBL Flip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every JBL Flip generation.
Pros: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size, a huge sound quality leap over the JBL Flip 5. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Some slight upper mids emphasis. The TL version (made in Vietnam) tweeter can sound somewhat scratchy and doesn’t sound as good as the GG version (made in China)
Full JBL Flip 6 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (176 x 68 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 44mm x 80mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (544 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon $139.00 eBay
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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