Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen for better sound quality, the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 for the lower price. The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #33 of 136 medium speakers at $159. The Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 ranks #54 at $49.99, $109.01 cheaper.
What the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen offers: Pretty much identical sounding to the 1st gen Watch for: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail. Self drains the battery about 10% a week.
What the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 offers: Good battery life - 20+ hours on a charge. IPX7 rated. PartyCast mode links multiple speakers; app EQ presets. Watch for: A little less bass than similar size speakers.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 is rated for 24 hours versus 12 hours for the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #33 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #54 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 0.8 lbs / 372 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 6.9" x 2.2" x 2.3" (174 x 57 x 59 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 38mm (1.5") titanium diaphragm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 60Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 180ms |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs JBL Charge 2
- Tribit Xsound Plus 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Marshall Emberton II
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
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.
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??
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen Review
- 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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Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2: $49.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Good battery life - 20+ hours on a charge. IPX7 rated. PartyCast mode links multiple speakers; app EQ presets.
Cons: A little less bass than similar size speakers.
Full Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.2" x 2.3" (174 x 57 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm (1.5") titanium diaphragm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 372 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Anker Soundcore 3 vs Tribit Maxsound Plus - Best £50 speaker More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boost vs Soundcore 3 - Best small bluetooth speaker❓
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: Anker SoundCore 3 Vs. SoundCore Select 2 Bass Sound Test
- Reddit Search for Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs JBL Charge 4
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- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Sony XB33
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