Short answer: the Xiaomi Mi Portable. It ranks #58 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $55; the JBL Flip 4 ranks #63 and costs $70, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Xiaomi Mi Portable offers: Good battery life for a 16W speaker - around 12 hours at moderate volume. Watch for: A bit of a sharp treble.
What the JBL Flip 4 gets right: Less bass than a Flip 5. Peaky lower treble. The catch: Battery failures are common.
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Portable. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Xiaomi Mi Portable | JBL Flip 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $55 | $70 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #58 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #63 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 373 g | 1.1 lbs / 510 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 2.9" x 2.9" (213 x 74 x 74 mm) | 6.9" x 2.8" x 2.6" (175 x 70 x 65 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 16W | 16W RMS |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 66Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 300ms |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 92dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Flip 5 vs Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Tronsmart Element Force vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs JBL Flip 4
The Two Speakers In Full
Xiaomi Mi Portable: $55 Amazon
Pros: Good battery life for a 16W speaker - around 12 hours at moderate volume. USB-C charging, stereo pairing support.
Cons: A bit of a sharp treble
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 2.9" x 2.9" (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 373 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony XB33
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip 5
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony XB23
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Tronsmart Element Force
JBL Flip 4: $70 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Less bass than a Flip 5. Peaky lower treble.
Cons: Battery failures are common. Discontinued.
Full JBL Flip 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.8" x 2.6" (175 x 70 x 65 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 510 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DLX Willington: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 4 :Sound Battle: Almost to the size of the JBL Charge 3?
- GYMCADDY: Best $100 Speaker? JBL Flip 4 Vs Sony XB20 Vs UE WONDERBOOM Vs Altec Mini Lifejacket 2
- GYMCADDY: Best $100 Speaker? JBL Flip 4 Vs Sony XB20 Vs UE WONDERBOOM Vs Altec Mini Lifejacket 2
- Reddit Search for JBL Flip 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons