Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks #27 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $110; the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #33 and costs $129.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: not much of a change from the 1st gen, for better or worse - it sounds nearly identical. The catch: not stereo, warm sounding with overly boosted bass that drowns out midrange detail, and it self-drains about 10% of its battery a week.
What the Soundcore Boom 3i gets right: it looks like a direct answer to the JBL Charge 5, with a similar warm, bass-forward sound profile at better value. Set against that: it doesn’t quite match the Charge 5 for loudness or balance (though it comes close), and an early firmware version had some bass distortion - worth updating in the Soundcore App.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Soundcore Boom 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $110 |
| Ranked | #33 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 1.7 lbs / 783 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8.3" x 3.3" x 3.1" (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Output Power | - | 50W |
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $129.99 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.
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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- 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!
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing M4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bogasing G4
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs W-King D320
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus
- See all 21 comparisons
Soundcore Boom 3i: $110 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. Better value for the money than the Charge 5.
Cons: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close. An earlier firmware version had some bass distortion, update your firmware in the Soundcore App
Full Soundcore Boom 3i review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3" x 3.3" x 3.1" (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 783 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons