Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $79.99; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75, rated 3.4/5, and costs $399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use. At 1.3 lbs (589 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Watch for: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
What the Bose Portable Smart Speaker does well: A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. Watch for: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #38 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Music) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bose Soundlink Flex: reviews by Joy & Oluv’Sone, Oluv and Alan Ross.
- Bose Portable Smart Speaker: reviews by SoundGuys, RTINGS and Tom’s Guide.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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