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Neither JBL Flip 5 nor Sony SRS-XB40 were recommended by experts this month

On 4 Mar 2024 (25 days ago) we went through 113 Bluetooth Speaker expert endorsements , however neither JBL Flip 5 nor Sony SRS-XB40 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 JBL Charge 5 or other critically acclaimed Portable Bluetooth Speakers of this month.

For reference, JBL Charge 5 received 6 endorsements this month, from Digital Trends (26 Feb 2024), WIRED (18 Feb 2024) Tom's Guide (22 Feb 2024) and 3 others.

Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
N/A N/A $90
JBL Flip 5
The JBL Flip 5 is a highly portable and durable Bluetooth speaker with good bass performance, a 12-hour battery life, and an IPX7 waterproof rating, making it suitable for outdoor activities and personal use.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
N/A N/A $266
Sony SRS-XB40
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Curious to see this month's entire Portable Bluetooth Speakers ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Critic Consensus Common points from expert reviews summarized.
As can be seen below, in Mar 2024 neither JBL Flip 5 nor Sony SRS-XB40 were recommended by key experts who publish Portable Bluetooth Speakers recommendations.
Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
Digital Trends
TechHive
WIRED
Tom's Guide
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Popular Mechanics
PCMag
SoundGuys
What Hi-Fi
1
- $130
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is a durable and high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker with a well-balanced sound, long battery life, and PartyBoost feature, making it perfect for outdoor activities and gatherings.
15
-
2
12
-
7
-
-
1
1
2
+4 $437
Sonos Move 2
4
5
-
5
-
9
-
-
2
-
3
-1 $176
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam is a highly versatile and durable portable speaker that delivers excellent sound quality, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, voice assistant integration, and unique features such as Automatic TruePlay and wireless charging.
3
-
10
11
-
1
-
-
-
-
4
-1 $60
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is a durable and waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound, long battery life, and versatile connectivity options.
8
-
9
-
-
2
-
-
-
3
Show all rows
Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [27]

87
Total expert reviews: 27
  • with a score: 18
  • without a score: 9
Highest score by What Hi-Fi
100
Average score based on 27 reviews
87
Lowest score by Stereo Guide
75

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
No expert reviews linked yet for Sony SRS-XB40.
From Seller:
  • This bundle includes (1) JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker and (1) divvi! Protective Hardshell Case.
  • PartyBoost allows you to pair two JBL PartyBoost–compatible speakers together for stereo sound or link multiple JBL PartyBoost–compatible speakers to pump up your party.
  • Read more
From Seller:
  • Feel the power of EXTRA BASS
  • Connect and stream music easily with Bluetooth and NFC, plus LDAC
  • Build energy with a multicolored line light, speaker lights and flashing strobe
  • Connect and add more speakers with Wireless Party Chain
  • Read more
Video Reviews Most popular unboxing/review videos.
Should you buy the JBL Flip 5?
Review by SoundGuys
Very popular! 202K views!
Play video review
JBL Flip 5 Review|Watch Before You Buy
Review by The Product Lab
Popular! 46K views!
Play video review
JBL Flip 5 Review & Sound Test!
Review by Chrispy Things
Very popular! 275K views!
Play video review
No video reviews linked yet for Sony SRS-XB40.
From Manufacturer Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents.
EAN Numbers: 0050036359160, 0050036359177, 0050036359184, 0050036359214, 0050036359252, 0050036359276, 0050036359283, 0050036359290, 0050036359306, 0050036359313, 0050036359320, 0050036359337, 0050036359344, 0050036359351, 0050036359498, 0050036361088, 0050036371285, 0645759417954, 0768505913323, 0768505913446, 0768505913460, 0768505913484, 6925281954566, 6925281954573, 6925281954580, 6925281954597, 6925281954610, 6925281954627, 6925281954634, 6925281954641, 6925281954658, 6925281954672, 6925281954894
UPC Numbers: 050036359160, 050036359177, 050036359184, 050036359214, 050036359252, 050036359276, 050036359283, 050036359290, 050036359306, 050036359313, 050036359320, 050036359337, 050036359344, 050036359351, 050036359498, 050036361088, 050036371285, 645759417954, 768505913323, 768505913446, 768505913460, 768505913484
Model Numbers: FLIP5BLK, GRAM-FLIP5-BLACK, GRAM-FLIP5-GREEN, GRAM-FLIP5-PINK, GRAM-FLIP5-TEAL, JBLFLIP5BLK, JBLFLIP5BLKAM, JBLFLIP5BLKAM-FLIP45CASE, JBLFLIP5BLU, JBLFLIP5BLUAM, JBLFLIP5ECOBLUAM, JBLFLIP5GREN, JBLFLIP5GRENAM, JBLFLIP5GRY, JBLFLIP5GRYAM, JBLFLIP5PINK, JBLFLIP5PINKAM, JBLFLIP5RED, JBLFLIP5REDAM, JBLFLIP5SAND, JBLFLIP5SANDAM, JBLFLIP5SQUAD, JBLFLIP5SQUADAM, JBLFLIP5TEALAM, JBLFLIP5WHT, JBLFLIP5WHTAM, JBLFLIP5YEL, JBLFLIP5YELAM
EAN Numbers: 0027242902718, 0027242903524, 0027242903531, 4548736044364, 4548736044395, 4548736049901
UPC Numbers: 027242902718, 027242903524, 027242903531
Model Numbers: SRSXB40B.EU8, SRSXB40/BLK, SRSXB40/BLUE, SRSXB40L.EU8, SRSXB40/RED
Physical Features
Dimensions
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Weight
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3.3 lbs
 
Water Resistance

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 rating—the 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
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IPX5 - Protection from small water jets
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 don’t get along very well. A ... Show more
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Yes
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
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Yes
Battery

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.

It’s 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 power—great for outdoor use!

Battery Life
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24 hours
battery_charging_full Power Bank This refers to the speaker’s 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
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No
Sound Quality
speaker_group Sound System A speaker’s 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
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Stereo
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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20 Hz–20,000 Hz
wifi_tethering Connectivity
Bluetooth Range If you can find it, you should always check the Bluetooth range of your speaker. You won’t realize it isn’t long enough until it stops working for you! Bluetooth range is important for a couple of rea ... Show more
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33 ft
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
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Yes
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
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Yes
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
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Yes
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
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No
speaker_group Connects to Other Speakers Generally speaking, Bluetooth speakers aren’t 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
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Yes
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
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Yes
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
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No
radio FM Radio
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No
Additional Features
Accessories Chargers, cables, cases that come with the device
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AC power adapter
Loading price comparison chart...

JBL Flip 5 is a very popular option on the lower end of the price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Ultimate Ears Blast or Anker Soundcore Motion 300 .

JBL Flip 5 is $45 cheaper than the average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

Sony SRS-XB40 is a well-known option on the higher end of the price range. It's in the top 3 bestselling bluetooth speakers and has dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Soundcast VG7 or Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 .

Sony SRS-XB40 was released in 2017. There are dozens of newer bluetooth speakers on the market. Show newer Bluetooth Speakers

Sony SRS-XB40 is $141.01 more expensive than the average bluetooth speaker ($124.99).

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High-rated Bluetooth Speakers in a similar price range.

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