Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used, though neither ranks well in its class. Used, the Bose SoundLink Color II is the better pick: it ranks #125 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 2.7/5), against #131 (rated 2.6/5) for the Cabasse Swell. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 175 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the EarFun Uboom L instead, ranked #2 at $49.79.
The Bose SoundLink Color II is the lighter pick. Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. At 1.3 lbs (600 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Cabasse Swell at 1.7 lbs (750 g). The catch: Boosted bass on Color II.
The Cabasse Swell is the tougher option. Compact, pocketable design (750g). It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the Bose SoundLink Color II. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Color II lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose SoundLink Color II lacks. The tradeoff: Bass boosted.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Color II only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the EarFun Uboom L instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Cabasse Swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $300 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #125 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #131 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) | 1.7 lbs (750 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 7.3” x 3” x 3” (185 x 75 x 75 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 85mm woofers, 2x 40mm mid-tweeters |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | aptX |
| Amplifier Power | - | 60W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bose SoundLink Color II compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- JBL Charge 6 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- JBL Flip 6 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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 SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon $139.00 eBay
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Cabasse Swell: $300 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Compact, pocketable design (750g). Can pair two Swells for a 120W stereo system.
Cons: Bass boosted. Bass gets distorted and thuddy. Mids recessed. Discontinued.
Full Cabasse Swell review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2017 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.3” x 3” x 3” (185 x 75 x 75 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 85mm woofers, 2x 40mm mid-tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (750 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons