Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen for better sound quality, the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen for the lower price. The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen ranks #11 of 177 medium speakers, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #37, rated 3.8/5, at $149, $246 cheaper.
The Beosound A1 2nd gen is the more refined small speaker. A 3.5-inch aluminum woofer and a silk dome tweeter run on two 30W amplifiers, with bass reaching about 58Hz before falling 10dB. It claims 18 hours of battery, is IP67 and supports aptX Adaptive and AAC. Its round, flat aluminum body is built to last.
The SoundLink Flex 2nd gen gets much of that for far less. Its clear, balanced midrange keeps voices easy to follow, and it adds a 3-band EQ, stereo pairing with a second Flex and the same aptX Adaptive and AAC support. It is IP67 and weighs 1.3 lbs (586 g). RTINGS found its treble can turn piercing on hi-hats, and its battery is rated for 12 hours.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A small, rugged waterproof speaker with clear, well balanced mids, app EQ, aptX Adaptive and stereo pairing with a second unit.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.00 | $395.00 |
| Ranked | #37 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 58Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 90ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) |
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