Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $79.99; the Sonos Roam 2 ranks #94, rated 3.2/5, and costs $179, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 10dB, against 63Hz for the Sonos Roam 2. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Sonos Roam 2. The catch: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The Sonos Roam 2 is the lighter option. A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support. At 0.9 lbs (429 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Bose Soundlink Flex at 1.3 lbs (589 g). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. The tradeoff: Exact same sound quality as the original Sonos Roam.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam 2 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use.
A small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with water resistance, Alexa built in and Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex | Sonos Roam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $179.00 |
| Ranked | #38 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Sonos S2 App |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 1x ~45mm racetrack mid-woofer + 1x tweeter + 2x 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 (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
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