Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Flip 7

Last updated: October 13, 2026

Short answer: the JBL Flip 7 for accuracy, the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if the price gap matters to you. These rank #37 and #15 out of 175 medium speakers, with only $69.05 between them.

Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Flip 7

The tuning is the real split here. Our notes on the Flip 7 call it a very neutral speaker, with slightly more treble and slightly deeper bass than the well-regarded Flip 6, though a small bump around 4kHz keeps it just a touch less neutral than its predecessor. The Flex 2nd gen sounds pretty much identical to the original Flex, which our notes describe as warm with overly boosted bass that drowns out midrange detail, and it isn’t a stereo speaker.

The Flip 7 also wins on hardware specifics: a 7-band EQ versus 3 bands on the Flex, IP68 versus IP67 water resistance, and Auracast party mode versus Bose’s own Party Mode. The Flex 2nd gen counters with a built-in microphone for calls, which the Flip 7 lacks, plus aptX Adaptive support on top of SBC and AAC, and it supports true wireless stereo pairing (TWS), which the Flip 7 does not.

Everything else is close: both charge over USB-C, both run 12 to 14 hours per charge, and the two are within about an ounce of each other in weight.

Buy the JBL Flip 7 if accurate sound and Auracast matter more to you than a built-in mic or TWS pairing.

Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if you want a speaker you can also use for calls and don’t mind its warmer, bass-forward tuning.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Check JBL Flip 7 price at Woot ($89.95) →Check Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen price at Amazon ($159.00) →

Specifications Side By Side

Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen JBL Flip 7
Price$159.00$89.95
Ranked#37 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#15 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYesYes
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)14 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built-in MicrophoneYesNo
EQYes (3 band)Yes (7 band)
IP RatingIP67IP68
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)Yes (Auracast)
Power InputUSB-CUSB-C (5V 7.5W-15W)
StereoNoNo
OmnidirectionalNoNo
TWSYesNo
Weight1.3 lbs (586 g)1.2 lbs (560 g)
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth Version5.35.4
Dimensions7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm)7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm)
Aux InputNoNo
Drivers60mm full-range driver with passive radiators45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX AdaptiveSBC, AAC
Digital Aux InputNoYes (USB-C)
StrapYes (built-in loop)Yes (detachable PushLock accessory)
Bass Extension (-10dB)-59Hz
Maximum SPL-100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
Power Bank-No
Amplifier Power-35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter)
Check JBL Flip 7 price at Woot ($89.95) →Check Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen price at Amazon ($159.00) →

Watch Them Compared

Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.

More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Flip 7:

Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 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 ranking card

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.

Featured on:

Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →

ReleasedSep 2024 (2 years ago)
AppYes
Aux InputNo
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
Bluetooth Version5.3
Built-in MicrophoneYes
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm)
Drivers60mm full-range driver with passive radiators
EQYes (3 band)
IP RatingIP67
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)
Power InputUSB-C
StereoNo
StrapYes (built-in loop)
TWSYes
Weight1.3 lbs (586 g)
Check current price at Amazon ($159.00) →Search eBay for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen →

JBL Flip 7: $89.95 Amazon $119.95 Woot $89.95 Lowest eBay

JBL Flip 7 ranking card

Older models: the JBL Flip 6 (ranked higher, rated 4.2/5), the JBL Flip 5 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the JBL Flip 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every JBL Flip generation.

Pros: A very neutral speaker, very small, almost pocket size. Just slightly more treble than the JBL Flip 6 which was already a great speaker. Slightly deeper bass than the JBL Flip 6. IP68 protection, a 7-band app EQ, Auracast and a USB-C digital audio input. Measured bass extension of 59Hz (-10dB).

Cons: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the JBL Flip 6. On balance it is the slightly worse of the two.

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Full JBL Flip 7 review and specifications →

ReleasedMar 2025 (1 year ago)
Amplifier Power35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter)
AppYes
Aux InputNo
Bass Extension (-10dB)59Hz
Battery Life14 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)
Dimensions7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm)
Drivers45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter
EQYes (7 band)
IP RatingIP68
Maximum SPL100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)
OmnidirectionalNo
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C (5V 7.5W-15W)
StereoNo
StrapYes (detachable PushLock accessory)
TWSNo
Weight1.2 lbs (560 g)
Check current price at Woot ($89.95) →Check current price at Amazon ($119.95) →Search eBay for JBL Flip 7 →