Neither Altec Lansing LifeJacket 2 nor JBL Flip 4 were recommended by experts this month
On 3 Jan 2025 (3 months ago) we went through 108 Bluetooth Speaker expert endorsements , however neither Altec Lansing LifeJacket 2 nor JBL Flip 4 were included in any of those recommendations. Since neither Bluetooth Speaker received a single endorsement, as far as expert recommendations go, it's technically a tie. We do, however, recommend taking a look at Sonos Roam 2 or other critically acclaimed Portable Bluetooth Speakers of this month.
For reference, Sonos Roam 2 received 4 endorsements this month, from WIRED (21 Oct 2024), Tom's Guide (12 Nov 2024) TechRadar (13 Dec 2024) and 1 other.
| Rank | Change | Price | Bluetooth Speaker | TechHive  | PCMag  | SoundGuys  | WIRED  | Tom's Guide  | Popular Mechanics  | Rtings.com  | TechRadar  | What Hi-Fi  | Digital Trends  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | $169 |  Sonos Roam 2 The Sonos Roam 2 is praised for its sound quality, durability, and versatility, but criticized for its battery life, connectivity issues, and high price point, especially for those not fully invested in the Sonos ecosystem. | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | - | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| N/A | N/A | $67 |  Altec Lansing LifeJacket 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N/A | N/A | $160 |  JBL Flip 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Portable Bluetooth Speakers ranking? It's here
As can be seen below, in Jan 2025 neither Altec Lansing LifeJacket 2 nor JBL Flip 4 were recommended by key experts who publish Portable Bluetooth Speakers recommendations.
| Rank | Change | Price | Bluetooth Speaker | TechHive | PCMag | SoundGuys | WIRED | Tom's Guide | Popular Mechanics | Rtings.com | TechRadar | What Hi-Fi | Digital Trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | $169 | Sonos Roam 2 The Sonos Roam 2 is praised for its sound quality, durability, and versatility, but criticized for its battery life, connectivity issues, and high price point, especially for those not fully invested in the Sonos ecosystem. | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | - | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| 2 | - | $180 |  JBL Charge 5 The JBL Charge 5 is highly praised for its improved sound quality, robust design, and long battery life, though it faces criticism for lacking an AUX port and having connectivity issues with the JBL app. | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | - |
| 3 | - | $100 |  Beats Pill The Beats Pill (2024) is praised for its portability, impressive battery life, and robust design, but criticized for sound quality issues at high volumes, lack of EQ settings, and its price point considering the features offered. | - | 8 | 3 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| 4 | - | $130 |  JBL Flip 6 The JBL Flip 6 is a durable and powerful portable Bluetooth speaker with a long battery life, PartyBoost feature, and water and dust resistance. | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [5]
Total expert reviews: 5
- with a score: 2
- without a score: 3
| Highest score by Busted Wallet | 90 |
| Average score based on 5 reviews | 75 |
| Lowest score by Gadgets Now | 60 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
The LifeJacket 2 is an average sounding speaker, but it doubles up as a phone charger, and it's pretty much indestructible. It's definitely not for everyone, but if we had the kind of lifestyle where it would make a difference, then we would probably really enjoy owning the Lifejacket 2.
Show all 5 reviews
Expert reviews [23]
Total expert reviews: 23
- with a score: 17
- without a score: 6
| Highest score by World of Turntables | 100 |
| Average score based on 23 reviews | 83 |
| Lowest score by Gadgets 360 | 70 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
90
The New Sub-$100 Speaker King
The JBL Flip 4 improves on an already-solid speaker line, adding more battery life, more ruggedness and better sound.
The JBL Flip 4 is a cylindrical Bluetooth speaker that offers impressive sound quality, ruggedness, and features for its $100 price tag. With its waterproof design, improved battery life, and excellent speakerphone, it is a top choice in its price range.
+ pros
- Impressive sound quality with big bass and full vocals.
- Waterproof design allows for worry-free use in various environments.
- Improved battery life and excellent speakerphone.
- cons
- Limited color options compared to previous model.
- Sound quality distorts at high volumes.
Show all 23 reviews
From Seller:
- MADE FOR PARTYING: Our waterproof bluetooth speakers combine a compact form with deep bass and loud sound to deliver immersive music with just the right highs and lows. It will elevate your listening experience while maintaining clarity, making it ideal for any party or occasion you have in mind
- Read more
From Seller:
- All-Purpose Bluetooth Speaker -Take the party everywhere with Flip 4, a portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers powerful stereo sound. With durable, waterproof fabric, this speaker features up to 12 hours of continuous, high-quality audio playtime.
- Read more
Watch THIS before you buy the JBL Flip 4... - JBL Flip 4 Review (2020)
Review by ThreeTwentyTech
Play video review
Physical Features
Dimensions
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Weight
1.6 lbs
1.1 lbs
Speakers range from not being able to handle even a drop of water to being able to be fully submerged in water for several minutes. Do you plan to take your speaker outside? To the beach? To the pool? In the shower? Then you definitely need to verify the level of water resistance before purchasing. You can tell the water resistance by the IP ratingâthe higher the rating, the more resistant the speaker is to the elements. For reference, the first digit refers to dust protection and the second digit refers to water protection. It reads as: IP68. Anything higher than IP66 will be dust- and splash-proof, meaning it can handle some contact with water, but cannot be fully submerged or soaked.
Water Resistant
IPX rating if applicable
IP67 - Dustproof and can withstand being submerged in 1m
IPX7 - Immersion up to 1m
Dustproof Dust is a difficult element to combat, since it accumulates naturally and you have very little control over its ability to clog up your speaker. Dust and electronics just donât get along very well. A ... Show more
Rugged Design Bluetooth speakers can be durable, rugged, shockproof, dustproof, armored, splash-proof, water resistant and waterproof - all of which can be overwhelming and confusing. In order for a speaker to be c ... Show more
Battery life for Bluetooth speakers is measured in milliampere hours (mAh). Manufacturers will report the battery life of a speaker in the average number of hours it takes to empty from a full charge. Keep in mind this number is based on medium levels of usage. If you play the speaker on full volume, it will drain the battery faster. Some specialty features like using the speaker to charge your phone or casting an LED light show will also drain the battery faster. The manufacturer reported number is just an estimate, and may be slightly different based on your usage.
Itâs also important to consider is the type of battery. Rechargeable lithium-ion (LI-ion) batters are ideal, but some speakers only take standard or rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D batteries. You may even find Bluetooth speakers that recharge via solar powerâgreat for outdoor use!
Battery Life
Charging Time
How long it takes to charge the battery
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battery_charging_full
Power Bank This refers to the speakerâs ability to act as a charging station for your device. In addition to input power (which charges the speaker), some speakers also come with output power, meaning it can cha ... Show more
Sound Quality
speaker_group
Sound System A speakerâs sound system is described as either mono or stereo. Mono speakers play audio from a single channel, giving the impression that the sound is coming from one direction. Stereo uses two or mo ... Show more
Stereo
Stereo
speaker_group
Number of Drivers To understand the inner-workings of a Bluetooth speaker, look first at the number and type of drivers. Drivers are the cones or horn-shaped objects inside the speaker box. The number of drivers tells ... Show more
wifi_tethering
Subwoofer Having a separate speaker driver dedicated to the lower frequency tones gives your speaker a more robust, rounded out sound. It allows the other drivers to focus on the sounds that theyâre best equipp ... Show more
Speaker Breakdown Use the speaker breakdown to better understand sound quality based on the makeup of the speaker. Manufacturers will often report additional details on the speaker drivers, such as the shape (cone or d ... Show more
Dual x 1" Neodymium drivers
Two 40mm transducers
Total Output Power Also known as âpower handling,â a speakerâs total output power is recorded in wattage. A watt is a measure of electrical power. Thus, higher output means more powerful (or louder) speakers. When deter ... Show more
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graphic_eq
Frequency Range Measured in Hertz (Hz), frequency response range describes how high and low a speaker can play. The larger the range, the better the speaker will be at reproducing the audio being played. As a frame o ... Show more
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70Hz â 20kHz
wifi_tethering
Connectivity
Bluetooth Range If you can find it, you should always check the Bluetooth range of your speaker. You wonât realize it isnât long enough until it stops working for you! Bluetooth range is important for a couple of rea ... Show more
Hands-Free Function If you plan on using your speaker to make and take calls, it needs to come equipped with a built-in microphone and speakerphone. To make a call, you can use voice-activated dialing or key in the numbe ... Show more
device_hub
Connects to Multiple Devices In most cases, your Bluetooth speaker will connect to one device at a time and your device will connect to one Bluetooth speaker at a time. Some speakers come equipped with a feature that allows you t ... Show more
settings_input_composite
Aux Cable Port While Bluetooth is a quick and easy way to connect your device to a speaker, at times you may want to use a hardwired connection instead. You would do this through a 3.5mm headphone or auxiliary jack. ... Show more
phonelink_ring
Remote / App Control Apart from the controls on the speaker itself, some Bluetooth speakers may come with a remote to turn the speaker on or off, activate Bluetooth scanning, turn volume up or down, or respond to calls. I ... Show more
speaker_group
Connects to Other Speakers Generally speaking, Bluetooth speakers arenât usually meant to connect to other Bluetooth speakers unless they come equipped with a hub or transmitter. In those situations, your device connects to the ... Show more
nfc
NFC Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new technology that allows you to connect devices by simple tapping them together. To use it, your device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.) and your speaker must have ... Show more
AirPlay AirPlay is a feature for Apple products that offers another way to connect your devices to Bluetooth speakers. The speaker must come equipped with AirPlay in order for you to connect your Apple device ... Show more
radio
FM Radio
Additional Features
Additional Features
Any other features that make this device unique
Connects In Seconds to Bluetooth
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Accessories
Chargers, cables, cases that come with the device
3.5mm aux input, USB charger
Micro USB Cable
Attachments
Hook, clip, strap, etc
Carabiner
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