JBL Flip 7

If you want a portable Bluetooth speaker for travel, the garden, or just moving music from room to room, the Flip 7 hits the sweet spot. It’s small enough to throw in a bag, loud enough for casual outdoor use, and now tougher than the usual mini speaker. ## What makes it worth it JBL rates it for up to 16 hours of playtime, which is comfortably enough for a long day out or a weekend of stop-start listening. The big upgrade is durability: IP68 protection means it’s fully dustproof and waterproof, and JBL says it’s also drop-proof, so this is a speaker you can actually live with instead of babying. Sound-wise, JBL’s Pro Sound tuning and AI Sound Boost aim to keep bass and treble cleaner at higher volumes, and the new Auracast support makes it easier to link with other compatible speakers than older Bluetooth-only options. ## Where it falls short It’s not the bassiest speaker in its class, and some reviewers note that bigger models like the Charge 6 simply sound fuller. The extra ruggedness and connectivity are useful, but they don’t magically turn this into a party speaker. Buy it if you want a compact, durable Bluetooth speaker for everyday listening and outdoor use. Skip it if you care more about deep bass and room-filling sound than portability.

£119