INTRODUCTION

   HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! We all wish you, your families and your loved ones in general the best for the New Year. Well 2016 may already be here but that doesn't mean people have stopped buying gifts for each other (even today some department stores where i live are open and filled with people) and so for today’s review (actually started roughly a week ago) we decided to dig through all of the samples currently in our lab in order to find something suitable for a gift. Many things popped up including several power banks, dash cameras, headphones, headsets, keyboards and earsets but surprisingly enough not many portable speakers. We actually we only one here currently send by our friends over at JBL in the beginning of December the brand new Flip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker.

   JBL, a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated, designs and builds audio equipment for consumers, the entertainment industry and the automotive industry. JBL takes its decades of experience making speakers and other equipment for concert halls and other public venues, and uses it to create audio equipment for consumers around the world. You can enjoy a movie, ball game or concert as part of a huge crowd or in your home - but either way, you can catch all of the sounds with superb clarity through JBL components.

   As you might have guessed the Flip 3 portable Bluetooth speaker is actually the 3rd product to carry that name by JBL and although i never had the chance to use the original model i did use the Flip 2 for a couple months. So compared to the Flip 2 the Flip 3 (both models are splash proof) is improved in several areas so this time over it offers Bluetooth v4.1 connectivity (Bluetooth v3.0 version was used in the Flip 2), 3000mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery which gives it up to 10 hours of playback time (vs the 2000mAh one found in the Flip 2 and the up to 5 hours of playback) and two 40mm drivers (same size as the ones in the Flip 2) which feature a total power output of 8W each (2 x 6W in the Flip 2) with a frequency response of 85Hz-20KHz (the ones used in the Flip 2 had 100Hz-20KHz) and a signal to noise ratio of 80dB (identical to the Flip 2). The Flip 3 also has two external bass radiators (the Flip 2 had none) and features the connect technology by JBL which allows the user to connect it with several other Flip 3 portable speakers (also not found in the Flip 2), NFC (near field communications) and a state of the art microphone (speakerphone feature).

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Flip 3 arrives inside a small white box that has a product picture at the front (the color inside actually), the main product features right beneath and the company logo.

Showcased over on the left side is the splash proof and connect features.

Another product picture this time used to showcase the white LED backlit buttons is placed on the right side.

The product and specifications of the Flip 3 along with a 3rd product picture are all placed at the rear of the box.

As you can see in order to access the interior of the box the front opens up like a book.

Packaging is pretty much excellent.

Along with the Flip 3 portable Bluetooth speaker you will also receive a lanyard (already attached onto the speaker), USB to microUSB flat charging cable, warranty papers, declaration of conformity, battery certification and the user manual.

THE FLIP 3

The enclosure of the Flip 3 is made out of splash proof fabric and rubber and measures 169mm in length and 64mm in diameter (weighs just 450g).

Although it has two bass radiators on its sides you can also use it vertically as seen above.

JBL has placed their logo on both the front and the exterior of the two bass radiators.

On the fabric area we find the Bluetooth pairing button, the volume up/down buttons and the answer/end calls button.

The on/off power button is placed right next to them along with the battery status button and the batter/volume level indicator LEDs.

Both the microUSB charging port and the auxiliary 3.5mm mini jack are placed beneath a rubber cap.

CONCLUSION

   After using the Flip 2 for a couple of months i have to admit that it left me wanting for a bit more especially in terms of bass and volume levels. Audio quality was good overall with crisp mids and highs but when a speaker doesn't output a good amount of bass (not to mention the average volume levels) that's not as impressive as it would be otherwise. Well with the Flip 3 JBL has improved on both these areas since it produces richer and deeper bass and it does so with even higher volume levels. Audio is as crisp and detailed (if not more) that what i recall from the Flip 2 so no compromises there either. Of course it goes without saying that the two bass radiators can't do miracles so don't expect to throw a small party with the Flip 3 but this time over it can actually go up against other larger speakers with no problem at all. Enclosure quality is very good and is indeed splash proof but it's not actually rugged so although it may survive a fall As for battery life JBL claims you can use the Flip 3 for up to 10 hours but as always that depends on the volume level and since during testing we always use speakers with the volume set almost at max we didn't even manage to hit 7 hours (6.42 was the highest one). Overall this is far from the best we've encountered for a portable Bluetooth speaker but for its size the FLIP3 does very well. Unfortunately we weren't as impressed with the built-in microphone since as usual people on the other end of several calls didn't report the best results (this occurs with most portable speakers in the market so nothing isolated only with the Flip 3).

   The Flip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker has been around for a few months already during which its price got a serious cut so currently you can get it for just USD89 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 94Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Just for the record compared to when the Flip 2 was released a while back the Flip 3 currently costs roughly USD30/20Euros less and at least to me that's always a good thing. Overall the Flip 3 Bluetooth portable speaker by JBL may not be the most powerful portable wireless speaker in the market currently nor does it have the best battery life and audio quality but at around its price range it's certainly among the very best which is why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Design
- Size/Weight
- Splash Proof Housing
- Bluetooth & 3.5mm AUX Input
- Good Audio Quality & Bass Levels
- Very Good Volume Levels (For Its Size)
- Good Battery Life (Up To 10 Hours)
- Bluetooth V4.1 & NFC Support
- Vertical & Horizontal Placing
- Available Colors

CONS

- 360 Degrees Feature Could Be Better