Short answer: the JBL Flip 7 for better sound quality, the Sony XB33 for the lower price. The JBL Flip 7 ranks #14 of 136 medium speakers at $129.95. The Sony XB33 ranks #59 at $110, $19.95 cheaper.
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. Set against that: 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.
On the Sony XB33 side: IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). App-controlled color LED lighting, Party Connect links up to 100 speakers. ~19 hour real-world battery without lights. The tradeoff: Not very loud. Upper bass peaks, midrange dip, upper midrange peaks, not very neutral.
Buy the JBL Flip 7 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony XB33 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony XB33 is rated for 24 hours versus 14 hours for the JBL Flip 7.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Sony XB33 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | $110 |
| Ranked | #14 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #59 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 100dB | 97dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 560 g | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Output Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | 16W RMS |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.7" x 2.8" (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 110ms |
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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
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown! More from alanrossreviews →
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- GYMCADDY: JBL Flip 7 Review - Is It Worth Upgrading Over The JBL Flip 6 Or Flip 5? More from GYMCADDY →
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- Reddit Search for JBL Flip 7 Review
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Sony XB33: $110 eBay
Pros: IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). App-controlled color LED lighting, Party Connect links up to 100 speakers. ~19 hour real-world battery without lights.
Cons: Not very loud. Upper bass peaks, midrange dip, upper midrange peaks, not very neutral. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically.
Full Sony XB33 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 97dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Reddit Search for Sony XB33 Review
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