Short answer: the Bose Portable Smart Speaker if sound quality matters most, the Soundcore 2 if price matters most. The Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 172 medium speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $297.77. The Soundcore 2 ranks #103, rated 3.0/5, at $29.99, $267.78 cheaper.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the better-sounding option. Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Soundcore 2 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Soundcore 2 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
The Soundcore 2 is the longer-running, lighter pick. A 0.7 lbs (318 g) stereo portable with IPX7 waterproofing, a rated 24-hour battery and two 38mm full-range drivers. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. At 0.7 lbs (318 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Watch for: Bass is specified only down to 70Hz, so the low end is limited.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room.
Amazon $297.77 Bose $399.00 eBay
A 318 g stereo portable with IPX7 waterproofing, a rated 24-hour battery and two 38mm full-range drivers.
Amazon $29.99 Lowest Soundcore $45.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Soundcore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.77 | $29.99 |
| Ranked | #75 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #103 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 0.7 lbs (318 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | No |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 12W |
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