Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen, if you are buying new. The Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 ranks higher than it (#5 vs #37 of 179 medium speakers, 4.4/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen is still sold new at $159.
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.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen, since the Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $60 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #37 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 179 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.3 lbs (590 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 150ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W (10W × 2) |
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