Short answer: neither escapes a boosted, uneven tuning. The Flex 2nd gen sounds pretty much identical to the 1st gen but is not stereo, and its warm sound with overly boosted bass drowns out midrange detail. The Revolve offers true 360 degree sound, but it is also not stereo and adds strange sizzling treble with peaks and dips.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Bose Soundlink Revolve is discontinued, so it is only available used.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Bose Soundlink Revolve, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Bose Soundlink Revolve | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $194.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #37 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Bose Connect |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.5 lbs (660 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer (~45mm) + 2x passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 60Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 64.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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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 Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $159.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Flex (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Smaller model: the Bose Soundlink Micro (rated 3.5/5).
Larger model: the Bose SoundLink Max (rated 4.3/5).
Pros: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. The second generation adds a Bose app with 3-band EQ, better-placed controls and stereo pairing with another Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It supports AAC and aptX Adaptive in addition to SBC, making it a stronger wireless option than most small rivals.
Cons: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing. The claimed battery life is only 12 hours, and some owners report accelerated standby drain after firmware updates. It is expensive for its size, so the added app and codec support, not a transformational sound upgrade over the original, are the main reasons to choose it.
Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen - sound demo
- Tô Thái Trí Hùng: Unbox & Sound Test - Bose Soundlink Flex 2
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen & Soundcore Motion 300 sound test
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW?? More from CEONTHEMAKING →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
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Bose Soundlink Revolve: $194.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II), ranked higher, rated 3.6/5.
Pros: True 360° sound stays consistent no matter where you stand around it, unlike most portable speakers. Measured bass extension of 64.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Strange sizzling treble, peaks and dips. Overly boosted boomy bass at 75Hz. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Revolve review and specifications →
| App | Bose Connect |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer (~45mm) + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (660 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: The Ultimate 360 Degree Bluetooth Speaker Showdown: Bose Soundlink Revolve Vs Tribit Stormbox Pro More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: The Ultimate 360 Degree Bluetooth Speaker Showdown: Bose Soundlink Revolve Vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org) More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Live Reviews and Q&A! Bose Soundbar, Monoprice Monitors, Bluetooth Speakers and more.
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website: Bose Soundlink Revolve
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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