Short answer: the Bose Portable Smart Speaker for better sound quality, the Tribit Stormbox 2 for the lower price. The Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #78 of 164 medium speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $399. The Tribit Stormbox 2 ranks #102, rated 3.0/5, at $70, $329 cheaper.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the better-sounding pick. 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 links with other speakers (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2), which the Tribit Stormbox 2 cannot. 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 Tribit Stormbox 2 is the longer-running, lighter choice. A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. At 1.3 lbs (593 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: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Tribit Stormbox 2 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Tribit Stormbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $70 |
| Ranked | #78 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #102 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 1.3 lbs (593 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | 2x 48mm 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) | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 200ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 34W RMS |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Portable Smart Speaker: $399.00 Bose eBay
Pros: 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 works as a Wi-Fi speaker at home (AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect) and as a Bluetooth speaker away from Wi-Fi, weighs about 1 kg with a carry handle, and is IPX4 splash resistant. SoundGuys measured 13 hours 6 minutes of playback at 75 dB, beating Bose’s 12 hour claim, and found the bass impressive for its size, especially near a wall or corner. Its 360 degree design spreads sound evenly around a room.
Cons: 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. Pushed to full volume, Tom’s Guide heard unbalanced sound and Pocket-lint found the bass struggling and turning incoherent. RTINGS measured only about 5 hours of battery in its own test. It is mono, has no aux input (the USB-C port only charges), uses Bluetooth 4.2, and the Bose Music app supports a limited list of streaming services. IPX4 covers splashes only, not submersion or dust.
Full Bose Portable Smart Speaker review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Music) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
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Tribit Stormbox 2: $70 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Tribit Stormbox (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5).
Pros: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response.
Cons: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Full Tribit Stormbox 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 34W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 200ms |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (593 g) |
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