Short answer: the JBL Flip 7. It ranks #14 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $149.95. The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 ranks #149, rated 2.0/5, at $69.99, $79.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the JBL Flip 7: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size. The catch: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the Flip 6.
What the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 does well: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. The catch: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally.
Buy the JBL Flip 7. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $79.96 with the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Battery life favors the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2: rated for 30 hours against 14 hours for the JBL Flip 7.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #14 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #149 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | - |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | No | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | 10W |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) | Yes (mounting clip) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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 7: $149.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Flip 6 (ranked higher, rated 4.2/5), the JBL Flip 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the JBL Flip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size. Just slightly more treble than the Flip 6 which was already a great speaker. Slightly deeper bass than the Flip 6. IP68 protection, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast and a USB-C digital audio input. Measured bass extension of 59Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the Flip 6. On balance it is the slightly worse of the two.
Full JBL Flip 7 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 7 is screech-fest heaven! vs Flip 6!
- Chrispy Things [EDC]: JBL Flip 7: My thoughts & sound test VS the Flip 6!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Flip 7 Review - Is It Worth Upgrading Over The JBL Flip 6 Or Flip 5? More from GYMCADDY →
- Musou1: JBL flip 7 vs KEF muo vs Bose flex 2
- FishBee Product Reviews: LG XBOOM Grab (2025) by Will.i.am - BETTER Than JBL Flip 7?? More from FishBee Product Reviews →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2: $69.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3, ranked higher, rated 2/5.
Pros: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. IP67 rated; doubles as a power bank. Universal mounting clip for a bike, kayak, or backpack. Built-in speakerphone with voice-confirmed caller ID.
Cons: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally. Gets distorted with a lot of bass. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the Lifejacket 3. Only available used now.
Full Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (mounting clip) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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