Short answer: the JBL Flip 7. It ranks #14 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $129.95; the Sonos Roam ranks #72 and costs $144.92, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the JBL Flip 7: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size. Just slightly more treble than the Flip 6 which was already a great speaker. Watch for: A little bit of a bump at 4khz, not quite as neutral as the FLip 6. I believe this one is slightly worse than the Flip 6.
What the Sonos Roam gets right: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging - rare for a portable speaker. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Buy the JBL Flip 7. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Flip 7 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Sonos Roam at IPX5 (water jets).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | $144.92 |
| Ranked | #14 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #72 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 100dB | 95dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 560 g | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Output Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.7" x 2.8" (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | - |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM 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: $129.95 Amazon eBay
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
Cons: A little bit of a bump at 4khz, not quite as neutral as the FLip 6. I believe this one is slightly worse than the Flip 6.
Full JBL Flip 7 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 560 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- 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 →
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- FishBee Product Reviews: LG XBOOM Grab (2025) by Will.i.am - BETTER Than JBL Flip 7??
- Reddit Search for JBL Flip 7 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonos Roam: $144.92 Amazon eBay
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging - rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi.
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Wifi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons