Short answer: the Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen, by a wide margin. At $129 it ranks #33 of 135 medium speakers. The Emberton III costs a dollar more at $129.99 and ranks #97, a 64-place gap at essentially the same price.
The Emberton III’s own cons admit it barely moved. Our notes describe it as not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little, plus an unnatural echo-like coloration and bass that trails the competition. For a third generation, that’s a thin case for buying new over finding the older model discounted.
The Flex’s real weakness is battery drain, not sound. It’s described as pretty much identical to the first generation sonically, warm with boosted bass that can drown out midrange detail, but the more practical flaw is that it self-drains about 10% of its charge per week sitting unused.
Marshall’s advantage is battery life and materials. It claims 32 hours against the Flex’s 12, plus a fast quick-charge and an IP67 build using 50% recycled plastic, both real, measurable pluses if either specifically matters to you.
Buy the Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen for the better-ranked, better-sounding speaker. Buy the Emberton III only for the battery life and materials, not the sound.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #33 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #97 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.6" x 2.1" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3.0" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 20W |
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $129.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty much identical sounding to the 1st gen
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail. Self drains the battery about 10% a week.
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.6" x 2.1" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
- 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!
- CEONTHEMAKING: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen VS Marshall Emberton III - What’s NEW??
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon
Pros: 30 hour battery life - among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic.
Cons: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3.0" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 8, 2026 at 6:24 AM UTC 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.