These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Flip 7 ranks #15 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $149.95; the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ranks #14 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $279.
The JBL Flip 7 is the battery-powered, tougher pick. A small, very neutral speaker with slightly deeper bass than before, a tougher waterproof build, and an app EQ. Its battery is rated for 14 hours, while the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker needs an outlet. It is rated IP68, while the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker has no water resistance. The tradeoff: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the JBL Flip 6.
The case for the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: A compact smart speaker with an up firing driver for taller sound, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and an aux input. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Flip 7 lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS lists sub-par directivity as its main weakness, and reviewers agree a single unit sounds narrow from side to side, so it works best as a stereo pair.
Buy the JBL Flip 7 ($149.95) for a medium speaker; the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($279) suits a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $279.00 each |
| Ranked | #15 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #14 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver |
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | AC power cord |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) | - |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Inputs | - | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect |
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