I’ve gone through my fair share of portable speakers, many of which couldn’t survive a beach trip. So when the Flip 7 arrived, I didn’t expect to be impressed, but I was.

Right out of the box, the Flip 7 feels like it’s been hitting the gym. It’s compact, sure, but dense — about the size of a tall travel mug and built like one, too, wrapped in fabric with rubberized ends.

It’s got this no-nonsense sturdiness that doesn’t beg for attention but doesn’t mind being dropped either (which I did, onto concrete — purely for science).

The new IP68 rating means it laughs in the face of dust and water, and JBL even claims it’ll survive a meter-high drop. Spoiler: it does. The carabiner-friendly strap is a smart update, too — finally, no more awkward dangling loops.

But let’s talk about the one thing that matters most: sound.

Despite being a mono speaker, the Flip 7 punches well above its weight. It runs a 45×80mm woofer and a 16mm tweeter pushing 35 watts total, and honestly, that’s more than enough to startle your neighbors.

The bass is tight, not boomy. Highs are sharp but rarely harsh. Mids? A little shy in busy tracks, but vocals still cut through. Don’t expect magic from a speaker this size, but do expect clarity and presence that feels way too big for something this portable.

It gets loud — loud enough for a picnic or a bike ride. There’s also some software trickery involved (hello, AI Sound Boost), but it doesn’t feel fake. The soundstage, for a mono speaker, somehow feels wide. It fills a room. It energizes a quiet porch.

Battery life is the one thing you’ll want to manage your expectations around. JBL says 14 hours. In reality, you’ll get around 10 if you’re playing it smart. Go full blast and you’re looking at 6 or 7. Still, that’s a solid day’s use. Just don’t forget your charger on a weekend trip.

Connectivity is where the Flip 7 shows it’s keeping up with the times. Bluetooth 5.4 is rock solid. You get SBC and AAC support. Auracast lets you chain up multiple speakers (if you’re lucky enough to own more than one), and there’s even a touted USB-C audio mode, which I haven’t tried, for high-res playback — assuming your device supports it.

The JBL app is fine. Nothing revolutionary, but it lets you tweak EQ, update firmware, and toggle battery-saving modes.

If there’s a flaw, it’s that the Flip 7 tries to do a lot with a small frame. It mostly succeeds. You’ll miss stereo separation in some tracks, and audiophiles might scoff at the digital enhancements. But for real-world use? It’s kind of a beast.

Bottom line: The Flip 7 doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It’s not cheap, but it’s built to take abuse, sound good doing it, and can survive a wet, dusty, bass-hungry world. If that’s your thing, you won’t regret picking it up.