Bose SoundLink Color 2 vs JBL Flip 5 (2021): Portable Bluetooth Speaker Comparison

The Bose SoundLink Color 2 and the JBL Flip 5 are two of the more popular and affordable Bluetooth speakers that you can get right now. They come with features such as water resistance, multi-speaker pairing and more. In this post, we’ll be comparing the two in order to help you decide which one is better for your particular needs. To start things off, here is a comparison chart for these Bose and JBL speakers.

Bose SoundLink Color 2 vs JBL Flip 5 Comparison Chart

Design

Both the Bose SoundLink Color 2 and the JBL Flip 5 are highly portable due to their compact design.

The Bose SoundLink Color 2 has a square shaped design and it features a thick silicone covering for protection and durability. It has an IPX4 rating, meaning that it is resistant to water splashes, but it is not entirely waterproof. Measuring 5 x 5.25 x 2.25 inches and weighing only 1.2lbs, the speaker is highly portable and easy to carry around.

Meanwhile, the JBL Flip 5 is a cylindrical speaker that sports a rugged build with a tight-knit fabric covering for durability. It has an IPX7 rating, so it is waterproof. You can submerge it in water for up to 30 minutes without getting damaged. Just like the Bose SoundLink Color 2, the JBL Flip 5 is highly portable, measuring 7.1 x 2.9 x 2.7 inches and weighing 1.2lbs.

The Bose SoundLink Color 2 comes in aqua blue, citron, coral red, polar white and soft black. On the other hand, there are 12 color options available for the JBL Flip 5, including black, black camo, blue, camo, green and more.

Features

The Bose SoundLink Color 2 has a speakerphone function, unlike the JBL Flip 5.

Both speakers come with Bluetooth connectivity, however, the Bose SoundLink Color 2 also gives you the option to connect a device via a 3.5mm analog connection, so it is more versatile in that regard. The control buttons on both speakers are easy to distinguish and they are very responsive.

Features-wise, the Bose SoundLink Color 2 definitely has the advantage over the JBL Flip 5. In addition to having more connectivity options, the Bose SoundLink Color 2 also has a built-in mic, so you can use it to answer calls. Its built-in mic also supports Google Assistant and Siri, but it doesn’t have built-in voice assistant. It will use the voice assistant of your tablet or phone. The JBL Flip 5 does not have a built-in microphone so it doesn’t come with the features mentioned.

As for multi-speaker pairing, the Bose SoundLink Color 2 can be paired with other Bose Home and SoundLink speakers with the Bose SimpleSync technology. Likewise, the JBL Flip 5 also has a multi-speaker pairing feature. It can be paired with other JBL Bluetooth speakers that come with the PartyBoost protocol.

When it comes to battery life, the Bose SoundLink Color 2 can last up to 8 hours, with a charge time of 4 hours. On the other hand, the JBL Flip 5 has a battery life of up to 12 hours, and it only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge it.

Sound Quality

The JBL Flip 5 sounds better than the Bose SoundLink Color 2.

Since these are compact speakers, they aren’t very loud and their bass can be lacking for those that listen to mostly bass-centric genres such as EDM, hip-hop and the like. The Bose SoundLink Color 2 has a poor bass response and as a result, it sounds a bit thin. However, its mid-range is quite accurate so you can hear vocals and instruments in that frequency with clarity. The treble range is underemphasized and it results in a veiled sound.

On the other hand, the JBL Flip 5 has a boomier bass that is acceptable for bass-heavy music. Its mid-range is also accurate and, similar to the Bose SoundLink Color 2, its treble is underemphasized resulting in a dark and veiled overall sound.

Check out our Beats Pill+ vs JBL Flip 5 comparison

Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Color 2 offers more features, but the JBL Flip 5 sounds better.

These two Bluetooth speakers offer excellent portability since they are compact and lightweight. If you want the better sounding speaker, go with the JBL Flip 5. Between the two, it offers better overall sound and it has a longer battery life. The Bose SoundLink Color 2 is a decent Bluetooth speaker since it comes with extra features such as voice assistant support and a speakerphone function. However, it’s simply not as good as the JBL Flip 5 when it comes to sound quality.

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