Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks #37 of 164 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $159; the JBL Pulse 6 ranks #49, rated 3.7/5, and costs $329.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen is the lighter pick. A very portable 1.3 lbs (586 g), IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. At 1.3 lbs (586 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 6 at 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 6 lacks. 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 case for the JBL Pulse 6: A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. The tradeoff: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Pulse 6 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | JBL Pulse 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $329.95 |
| Ranked | #37 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #49 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | JBL One |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C, lossless) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) |
| Battery Capacity | - | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) |
| Charging Time | - | 4.5 hours |
| Frequency Response | - | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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 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 Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Teufel Rockster XS
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Cleer Audio Scene
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- See all 146 comparisons
JBL Pulse 6: $329.95 Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Pulse 5 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. IP68 makes it fully dustproof and submersible, a step up from the Pulse 5’s IP67. The 360° light show now runs over an illuminated carry handle too, with 16 themes, a double-tap bedside lamp and a Sunset Mode sleep timer in the JBL One app. Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC and LC3, lossless playback over USB-C, and Auracast for stereo pairing or linking PartyBox speakers and PartyLight Sticks.
Cons: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It plays in mono from one woofer and one tweeter, so a single unit gives no stereo separation. Battery life is rated at only 12 hours from its 34Wh pack, charging takes up to 4.5 hours, and the USB-C port can’t charge a phone. There is no strap, only the built-in handle.
Full JBL Pulse 6 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C, lossless) |
| Dimensions | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons