Short answer: the JBL Flip 6. It ranks #13 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $79.95; the Sonos Play ranks #56, rated 3.5/5, and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Flip 6 is the better-sounding, lighter option. A small, rugged speaker with very neutral sound for its size, an excellent choice for most people. At 1.2 lbs (544 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the Sonos Play cannot. The catch: Some slight upper mids emphasis.
The Sonos Play is the longer-running option. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Flip 6. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip 6 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Flip 6. The tradeoff: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the JBL Flip 6. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Play and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A small, rugged speaker with very neutral sound for its size, an excellent choice for most people.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 6 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.95 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #13 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (544 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (176 x 68 x 72 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 44mm x 80mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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