Short answer: the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021. It ranks #4 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $60; 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: it sounds pretty much identical to the 1st gen. The tradeoff: it’s not stereo, sounds warm with overly boosted bass that drowns out midrange detail, and self-drains its battery about 10% a week.
What the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 gets right: it’s a very neutral, good sounding, inexpensive small speaker with quite deep bass for its size, and this version adds USB-C over the old micro USB. Set against that: a slight DSP tuning issue makes the bass get lighter at times at very low volumes.
Buy the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021. 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 Boost “upgraded” 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $60 |
| Ranked | #33 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (9 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 586 g | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.5" x 2" (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8" x 2.8" x 2.7" (204 x 72 x 69 mm) (7.7 x 2.5 x 2.6 inches) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1.75" (44mm) x 2 active drivers and one passive radiator |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 150ms |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Output Power | - | 20W (10W × 2) |
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 Soundcore Boom 3i
- 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
- See all 21 comparisons
Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021: $60 Amazon
Pros: A very neutral good sounding inexpensive small speaker with quite deep bass for the size. This upgraded version has a usb-c port while the old one has micro usb.
Cons: Slight DSP tuning issue which makes bass get lighter at times at very low volumes, examples in oluv’s video.
Full Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2.8" x 2.7" (204 x 72 x 69 mm) (7.7 x 2.5 x 2.6 inches) |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) x 2 active drivers and one passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 20W (10W × 2) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Motion 300 or JBL Flip 6 or Soundcore Boost v2? we all have issues!
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs Maxsound Plus and Soundcore Boost - ultimate travel speaker!
- Alan Ross Reviews: 2x Soundcore Boost (stereo) vs Motion Boom and Motion+ - Best Soundcore speaker? 😋
- Speakertech: Anker soundcore Boost (Upgraded) vs minirig mini in stereo /2.0 (and changing the equalizer)
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bogasing G4 spot cheap speaker - I was NOT expecting this!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex vs Soundcore Boost vs Bogasing M4 - cheap or Bose?
- Reddit Search for Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons