Short answer: the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks #13 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $30; the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 ranks #18 and costs $99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Anker Soundcore Mini: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. The tradeoff: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers.
What the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 gets right: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. The catch: Lack of clarity.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Anker Soundcore Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Anker Soundcore Mini | Bose Soundlink Micro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Output Power | 5W | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Go 4
- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Go 3
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Minirig Mini 2
The Two Speakers In Full
Anker Soundcore Mini: $30 Amazon
Pros: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
Full Anker Soundcore Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Klipsch Austin
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen II
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- See all 23 comparisons
Bose Soundlink Micro 2: $99.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Compact fabric strap for clipping to bags/bikes - replaces the 1st-gen’s hook clip, which was prone to breaking. USB-C charging. Surprisingly good bass when mounted outdoors, like on a bike.
Cons: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass that causes some thudding, and can overdrive/distort at higher volumes - worse in this regard than the 1st-gen model. Overly boosted treble, turn down bass and treble in the EQ. Falls clearly behind the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 on bass depth, cleanliness, and loudness.
Full Bose Soundlink Micro 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Clip 5
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Marshall Willen
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Clip 4
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- See all 18 comparisons