JBL Flip 4 review: This Bluetooth is a near-perfect travel companion for those on a budget

The design

The Flip 4 from JBL, like its predecessors, is expected to be used while in a horizontal position with its cylindrical shape. There are easy to reach buttons for controlling music playback - volume buttons - and Bluetooth pairing. The buttons are receptive enough and make a 'click' sound whenever pressed. The problem seeps in when there is low-light, as the buttons don't light up. The power button does illuminate with five LED dots that show you how much battery you have left.

Another positive about the Flip 4's design is that it is sturdy. It doesn't roll around when kept in the horizontal position. The base is solid and keeps the speaker from moving. It may be heavier than its predecessors, but the weight will not deter you from taking it out, everywhere you go.

A weekend in Udaipur

I had gone to Udaipur early last month for the World Music Festival. I went with a friend. The two of us love listening to music. This was also the time when Kendrick Lamar's Black Panther album dropped. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were spent in Udaipur and I left early Monday morning. In that time, we replayed the music we heard live on stage, while we were getting ready, and streamed the entire Black Panther album on Spotify.

I had fully charged the device before leaving and it neatly fit into my backpack. When I returned back on Monday afternoon, the JBL Flip 4 still had enough juice to stream Black Panther twice. Inside the speaker is a 3,000 mAh and is rated at 12 hours of continuous playback. There is also a microphone to answer calls. The battery easily lasted 10+ hours and was almost always close to the 12-hour mark. I was constantly surprised by how little I had to charge it. That negated the fact that charging the JBL Flip 4 takes over three long hours.

Impressive sound quality

Setting up the Flip 4 is a breeze. You can even connect up to a hundred Flip 4s together in what is called 'party mode'. The JBL Connect app lets you change the name of the speaker (to help you identify it easily) and check the battery life of the speaker. The app can also double up and let you play/pause the track that is playing.

Coming to the sound of the speaker. For something this compact, the audio performance is quite splendid, except at near-to-full volume. The bass is good and doesn't depend on any surface, and at moderate volumes, the sound is crystal clear and as crisp as it can be. Bump up the volume and you will more likely than not hear a crack in the sound that is output by the speaker. You're also likely to find the treble too harsh for the ears. Find a good range in volume and you'll get an overall sound that is pleasant to the ears and crystal clear with just the right balance and close to zero distortion.

There was never any drop of sound unless the connected device was in an entirely different room.

Furthermore, the bass from the Flip 4 thumped effortlessly. It had full vocals also, which is a good sign.

All of this, considering the size of the Flip 4, means that this is one of the best sounding, if not the best, Bluetooth speaker in its price range.

Let's bring it home

The JBL Flip 4 is one of the nicest and most compact speakers in the under Rs 10,000 range. It's dangerously close to UE Wonderboom's price and that makes it an even more attractive buy. The design is one of the best out there and the sound is mighty impressive for the size. As a bonus, you get water resistance and virtual assistance. Couple all of that with some solid battery life and a speakerphone and this should be the go-to Bluetooth speaker if you want to spend just Rs 7,000. The one major downside is the lack of 360-degree audio. That advantage goes to Ultimate Ears' range of speakers.

This is the near perfect travel companion for those looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker on a budget. If you want a boost in sound quality, then you can always opt for Bose (will come at a higher price) and the UE Megaboom (a fantastic sounding speaker that is more than double the Flip 4's cost). This speaker is one you can throw into your bag, take on a vacation - whether it is the mountains or beach - and not worry about sound output or battery life. It'll survive many a drop as well.

If you're looking for a decent and relatively affordable speaker that you can throw in your bag, take to the beach, or wherever, then the JBL Flip 4 is a convenient solution. At the right volume, it delivers decent sound that can fill small/medium size rooms without much hassle. It'll survive anything you throw at it and the battery will survive you a whole day.