Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks #35 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality at $159; the Huawei Sound Joy ranks #38 and costs $180, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
What the Huawei Sound Joy offers: Use Devialet and +6db EQ for best sound quality Watch for: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a Charge 5. Very expensive
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Huawei Sound Joy and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Battery life favors the Huawei Sound Joy: rated for 26 hours against 12 hours for the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Huawei Sound Joy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $180 |
| Ranked | #35 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #38 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (3 microphones) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | AAC, SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen compares with other leading options:
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Earfun Uboom L
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Motion+
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
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 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 |
| 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 Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Motion 100
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge 5
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Huawei Sound Joy: $180 Aliexpress eBay
Pros: Use Devialet and +6db EQ for best sound quality. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a Charge 5. Very expensive
Full Huawei Sound Joy review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Drivers | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Pulse 5
- Huawei Sound Joy vs W-King D320
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Charge 5
- See all 53 comparisons