Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex, if you are buying new. The Huawei Sound Joy measures as well as it (#40 vs #38 of 177 medium speakers, 3.8/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Bose Soundlink Flex is still sold new at $79.99. The Huawei Sound Joy’s replacement, the Huawei Sound Joy 2, is rated 3.5/5 at $154.73.
What the Bose Soundlink Flex does well: A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use. Watch for: Not stereo.
The Huawei Sound Joy is the louder, longer-running pick. A waterproof speaker with a separate tweeter, long battery life and good loudness, with a Devialet mode for its best sound. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 100dB at full volume, against 96dB for the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated for 26 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Soundlink Flex. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. The catch: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a JBL Charge 5.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex, since the Huawei Sound Joy is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
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 waterproof speaker with a separate tweeter, long battery life and good loudness, with a Devialet mode for its best sound.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 | Huawei Sound Joy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $180 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #38 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (3 microphones) |
| EQ | No | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8” x 2.9” (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
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