Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen on measured sound quality, the Tronsmart T8 on price. The Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #35 of 150 medium speakers, rated 3.8/5, at $159. The Tronsmart T8 ranks #52, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99, $109.01 cheaper.
Why pick the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. Watch for: 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 Tronsmart T8: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. The tradeoff: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Tronsmart T8 if the price matters more than sound quality.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Tronsmart T8 is rated for 18 hours, the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen only 12 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | Tronsmart T8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #35 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #52 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (lanyard) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
| Charging Time | - | 4.5 hours |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen:
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Earfun Uboom L
- 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
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Bose Soundlink Flex
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- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Cleer Audio Scene
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
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- See all 141 comparisons
Tronsmart T8: $49.99 Best Buy Tronsmart eBay
Pros: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. In AudioPro Reviews’ and Dresser’s comparisons most listeners preferred it to the JBL Flip 6, JBL Flip 7 and Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for its fuller body and less fatiguing treble, and Audioreviews.org found it stayed clean at maximum volume. It is rated for 40W, with IPX7 waterproofing, an 18 hour battery rating, app EQ, lights, a volume wheel, aux input, TF card playback, a lanyard and stereo pairing.
Cons: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass. Josh’s Gadgets and More preferred the cheaper Vortex Blast for smoother highs and deeper bass. Bass is rated only down to 56Hz.
Full Tronsmart T8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (app) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioPro Reviews: Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Flip 6 | Which one sounds BETTER?
- Dresser: JBL Flip 7 vs Tronsmart T8 Bluetooth speaker sound test
- Dresser: Tronsmart T8 vs UE mega boom 3 sound test
- Mateusz Cholewa: Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor & Opinion in Subtitles More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Techder Audios: Xiaomi Sound Party 50w VS Tronsmart T8 More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: Xdobo X8 IV VS Tronsmart T8
- Josh’s Gadgets and More: Tronsmart T8 vs Vortex Blast
- Audioreviews.org: Tronsmart T8 Portable Bluetooth 5.3 Speaker Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tronsmart T8 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Charge 4
- Tronsmart T8 vs W-King D320
- Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Tronsmart T8 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
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- See all 33 comparisons