Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks #37 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.8/5) at $99.99 and is still sold new; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #155 (rated 2.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A very portable 1.3 lbs (586 g), IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. It is rated for 12 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Esquire 2. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Harman Kardon Esquire 2. It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 lacks. The tradeoff: 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 Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is the lighter choice. Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. At 0.8 lbs (350 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen at 1.3 lbs (586 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen lacks. The catch: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #37 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #155 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 16W |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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: $99.99 Amazon $99.99 eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Flex (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5). See every Bose SoundLink Flex, Micro, Max and Plus generation.
Same family: the Bose SoundLink Max (larger model, rated 4.3/5), the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 (larger model, rated 3.6/5) and the Bose SoundLink Plus (larger model, rated 4.2/5).
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 →
| Released | Sep 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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 →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen & Soundcore Motion 300 sound test
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen - sound demo
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBSONO X-Blast F37 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2 - They all want to be me 😊
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge Essential 3 SE vs BOSE SoundLink FLEX 2 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW?? More from CEONTHEMAKING →
- Tô Thái Trí Hùng: Unbox & Sound Test - Bose Soundlink Flex 2
- Musou1: JBL flip 7 vs KEF muo vs Bose flex 2
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Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Released | 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 5.1” x 1.3” (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25” (32mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (0.35 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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