Beats Pill vs JBL Flip 5 (2021): Which Portable Speaker Is Better?

If you’re looking to get a portable speaker, it’s highly likely that you’ve come across some Beats and JBL models. These two brands offer some of the most popular ones, and people buy them because they look good and they like how they sound. In this article, we’ll be comparing two of their top models—the Beats Pill+ and the JBL Flip 5. The Beats Pill+ is the pricier option and it comes with some features that you won’t get with the JBL Flip 5. Is the more expensive Beats Pill+ worth it? Or should you just buy the more affordable JBL Flip 5? We compare the two to help you decide.

Beats Pill vs JBL Flip 5 Comparison Chart

Design

Both the Beats Pill+ and the JBL Flip 5 are portable due to their compact design.

Sporting a pill-shaped design, the Beats Pill+ is a compact portable speaker that has a very good build quality. You can take it outdoors without worrying about damaging it. Its speakers are covered with metal grilles on both sides and it has a rubber coated finish. Its physical dimensions are 8.3 x 2.5 x 2.7 inches and it weighs 1.5 lbs. You have the option of getting it in black, red or white.

The JBL Flip 5 has a cylindrical shape and it is compact as well. Measuring 7.1 x 2.7 x 2.9 inches and weighing 1.19 lbs., it is slightly smaller and lighter than the Beats Pill+. Due to its smaller size, it is easier to carry around. Also, it comes with a strap, which might not be a big deal overall, but it does contribute to its portability. The JBL Flip has a tight-knit fabric wrapped around its speaker and at the ends are rubber materials that protect the bass radiators. When it comes to build quality, the JBL Flip 5 has the edge.

One thing worth mentioning is that the JBL Flip 5 has an IPX7 rating. This simply means that it is waterproof, so it is more suited for trips to the beach, pool parties or even just showering at your own home. The Beats Pill+ does not have any kind of resistance rating, in comparison.

Sound and Features

The Beats Pill+ has more features, which is expected since it is more expensive, but the JBL Flip 5 sounds better.

When it comes to sound quality, we give the edge to the JBL Flip 5 since it has a richer and fuller sound. The Beats Pill+ has a boomier low frequency so it is great if you like music with thumping bass, but its mid-range is underemphasized. Its high frequency is slightly emphasized and this can result in slightly piercing sound, especially at high volumes. The JBL Flip 5, in contrast, has a more controlled bass response and its mid-range is balanced, so you can hear vocals clearly. In the treble range, it has an underemphasized sound, so it is not as clear and crisp as we would like. We prefer the more balanced sound of the JBL Flip 5 over the Beats Pill+.

As far as features go, the JBL Flip 5 is pretty barebones, which is expected since it is a budget-range portable speaker. The Beats Pill+, on the other hand, has a couple of features that some people might find useful. First, it has a built-in mic so you can answer phone calls with it. Another feature is that it can act as a powerbank so you can charge your phone or other compatible devices with it. Lastly, it has a 3.5mm analog input, so you can connect it to audio players or devices that don’t have Bluetooth.

Connectivity

They both offer excellent Bluetooth connectivity.

Connectivity with the Beats Pill+ is excellent since you can use it wired or wireless via Bluetooth. The JBL Flip 5, in contrast, can only be used with other Bluetooth enabled devices since it lacks any analog audio input.

Both speakers offer excellent Bluetooth connectivity when paired with either iOS or Android phones. You’ll rarely have connection issues, and if you do so, a simple restart will usually fix them. The two speakers can be connected to up to two devices and you can switch sources easily. When it comes to connection strength and reliability, there’s really not much to say as both speakers are excellent.

Click here to see how the Beats Pill+ fares against the JBL Charge 4

Battery Life

They have similar battery performance and they both have power saving features as well.

The Beats Pill+ has a battery life of up to 12 hours and it takes 3 hours to fully charge it when completely drained. Similarly, the JBL Flip 5 also has a battery life of up 12 hours, but it is slightly faster when it comes to charging as you only need 2.5 hours to fully charge it from zero.

Charging the Beats Pill+ will require a Lightning cable (included) while the JBL Flip 5 uses a USB-C cable (also included). One advantage of the Beats Pill+ is that it can act as a powerbank so you can charge your phone or other compatible devices with it.

To conserve battery life, the two speakers come with a power saving feature where they will automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. For the Beats Pill+, the auto-off/power saving feature will only kick in when it is connected via Bluetooth. When a cable is connected to its 3.5mm port, it won’t automatically shut off.

Verdict

The more affordable JBL Flip 5 sounds better and the Beats Pill+ offers a few features that some people might find useful.

If you only care about getting a good sounding portable speaker, the JBL Flip 5 is an excellent option. It doesn’t have a lot of fancy features but it sounds good, has a sturdy build and it is affordable. The Beats Pill+, on the other hand, is a good alternative if you will be needing some or all of its features. It doesn’t sound as good as the JBL Flip 5 but it does offer a wired connection option, a powerbank function and a speakerphone function.

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