All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
I tested the battery life of JBL’s Charge 6 and Flip 7, and the results surprised me
16 hours ago
If you’re picking up a JBL Charge 6 or Flip 7, you might expect the battery to last as long as advertised. But those numbers, 24 hours for the Charge 6 and 14 hours for the Flip 7, reflect JBL’s testing at 50 percent volume, which doesn’t exactly tell the whole story. 50% volume might be fine for personal listening around the house, but here at SoundGuys, we test a little differently to simulate a more realistic volume for outdoor listening or hanging with some pals. So, how long do these speakers actually last closer to party volume? The results were surprising.
Would poor battery life stop you from buying the Charge 6 or Flip 7?
How long do the Charge 6 and Flip 7 last at party volume?
Short answer: Not as long as you’d hope.
I tested the battery life of the Charge 6 and Flip 7 using a continuous music loop with the stock EQ at 80dB, measured from 1 metre away. The Charge 6 lasted for only 13 hours and 15 minutes, and the Flip 7 was even less impressive, lasting just 6 hours and 16 minutes.
That’s nearly half of what’s on the spec sheet for these two speakers, and a big deal if you plan to use these speakers at a party or outdoors. While 13 hours with the Charge 6 is still a decent run time for a lengthy beach day or a get-together with your pals, you may be reaching for your charging cable sooner than you think if you’re relying on your Flip 7 for your next camping trip.
Why do our battery results differ so much from JBL’s?
Whether headphones or speakers, manufacturers will test at quiet volumes to get ideal results. We test at 80dB from one meter because that’s closer to how people actually use portable speakers.
Testing at 80dB gives a much more realistic picture of battery life when you’re actually using the speaker the way it was meant to be used.
If you’re outside, in a group, or just trying to fill a room, 50% volume isn’t going to cut it when it comes to speakers like the Charge 6 or Flip 7. Most of us crank the volume higher to be heard over conversations or background noise.
How to make your speaker last longer
If you’re not getting the battery life you’d hoped for, there are a few simple ways to extend it, although they might not be ideal.
The first one is obvious: lowering the volume. Even turning down your speaker just a few clicks can add hours of playback. You’ll also want to avoid any bass-heavy EQ settings. Bummer, I know, but it can also help extend your speaker’s battery life. An example of this is JBL’s new “PlayTime Boost”, feature on the Charge 6 and Flip 7. It claims it can extend your battery life by several hours, but in reality, it’s just an EQ setting set that cuts your bass response.
The harder your speaker has to work, like pumping out bass-heavy EDM, for example, the faster the battery will drain.
For comparison, the Soundcore Boom 2 advertises 24 hours of playback off a single charge. But that’s at 50% volume without bass boost and without its party lights on. We replicated this test in our labs, and we were able to squeeze a whopping 27 hours and 8 minutes of playback out of the Boom 2. It looks impressive on paper, but listening to a speaker with no bass boost and no party lights at half volume doesn’t exactly sound like a fun party to me. Still, if you absolutely need your battery to last as long as possible, it can be done.
Should you still buy the JBL Charge 6 and Flip 7?
These are the best-sounding, most refined versions of JBL’s Charge and Flip lines yet. They’re durable, have excellent companion app support, with excellent app support and great sound for compact mono speakers. There is no doubt about that.
But in the end, don’t expect JBL’s battery claims to hold up if you’re blasting music at your next party. Consumers deserve realistic expectations. We test at loud volumes because that’s how most people use these speakers. If you plan to do the same, adjust your expectations and maybe your usage accordingly. Otherwise, be sure to keep a portable battery bank on hand to prevent a serious party foul!