Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It ranks #35 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $159. The Skullcandy Terrain XL ranks #140, rated 2.1/5, at $79.99, $79.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen does well: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. 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 case for the Skullcandy Terrain XL: The loudest and longest-running of the Terrain line at 95dB and 18 hours, and the only one with a built-in microphone. Watch for: Shares the Terrain line’s tuning: no bass, very rolled off treble, and distortion in the treble.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $79.01 you would save on the Skullcandy Terrain XL does not close the gap.
Battery life favors the Skullcandy Terrain XL: rated for 18 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 | Skullcandy Terrain XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #35 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #140 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.4 lbs (635 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” (190.5 x 88.9 x 88.9 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 48mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (wrist strap) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 2 x 20W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen compares with other leading options:
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- 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 30, 2026 at 2:57 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).
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
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Skullcandy Terrain XL: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The loudest and longest-running of the Terrain line at 95dB and 18 hours, and the only one with a built-in microphone. IPX7 rated with a nylon wrist wrap. Multi-Link pairs it with other Skullcandy speakers.
Cons: Shares the Terrain line’s tuning: no bass, very rolled off treble, and distortion in the treble. The extra size buys volume and runtime, not better sound.
Full Skullcandy Terrain XL review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 2 x 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” (190.5 x 88.9 x 88.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (wrist strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (635 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Newly Released! Skullcandy Terrain XL 🦨 Quick Overview & Sound Comparison with JBL Flip 6 & Tozo PA1 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- FishBee Product Reviews: Why is NO ONE Buying the New Skullcandy Speakers?? More from FishBee Product Reviews →
- Flossy Carter: All The New SkullCandy Bluetooth Speakers More from FlossyCarter →
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