Short answer: the original, at its lower price. The two are separated by a single ranking place (#38 against #37 out of 177) and $79.01.
The second generation’s real addition is an EQ. The original Flex has no EQ at all, which for a speaker with Bose’s characteristic tuning is a genuine limitation. The 2nd gen adds a 3-band app EQ and aptX Adaptive alongside SBC and AAC. If you want to adjust the sound at all, only one of these lets you.
Almost nothing else changed. Battery is 12 hours on both, weight is within 0 lbs (3 g), both are IP67, and both use Bose’s own party mode which pairs with other Bose speakers and nothing else. The measured performance is close enough that one ranking place is within the noise of the comparison.
The honest framing for both: these sit in the middle third of a 177-speaker class. Bose builds a well-finished, genuinely rugged object with a distinctive tuning that many people like, and charges a premium for it. What you are not getting at this price is class-leading measured sound. The medium size ranking has speakers at half the price ranked thirty places higher.
Buy the original Flex if you find it discounted and don’t care about EQ.
Buy the 2nd gen if you want the EQ and aptX Adaptive, or if the price gap has closed.
Buy neither if measured sound per dollar is your priority. See the portable buyer’s guide for what else $90 to $130 buys in this size.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use.
A small, rugged waterproof speaker with clear, well balanced mids, app EQ, aptX Adaptive and stereo pairing with a second unit.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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 Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $159.00 |
| Ranked | #38 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 1.3 lbs (586 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in loop) |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex
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