Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.8/5) at $159 and is still sold new; the Tribit Stormbox ranks #119 (rated 2.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Tribit Stormbox’s replacement, the Tribit Stormbox 2, is rated 3.0/5 at $69.99.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the better-sounding pick. IP67 rated; rugged enough to survive drops from several feet and floats. It links with other speakers (Bose Party mode), which the Tribit Stormbox cannot. The catch: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The Tribit Stormbox is the longer-running pick. IPX7 water resistant, dual pairing for stereo setup, excellent battery life (20 hours), instant on/off buttons, 97dB max volume. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Soundlink Flex. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. The catch: Muffled sounding, treble dips from 5kHz-12kHz.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Tribit Stormbox is no longer sold new.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex | Tribit Stormbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.00 | $68 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #38 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #119 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | 166ms |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No (360° mono; true stereo requires two paired StormBox units) |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 1.2 lbs (535 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 68 x 68 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 45mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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: $159.00 Amazon $159.00 eBay
Newer model: the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5, released Sep 2024. It adds adjustable EQ, AAC and aptX Adaptive. See every Bose SoundLink Flex, Micro, Max and Plus generation.
Pros: IP67 rated; rugged enough to survive drops from several feet and floats. Around 12 hours of battery at moderate volume. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail
Full Bose Soundlink Flex review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| 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 (589 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex More from Oluv’Sone →
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex or Beosound A1 (1st gen) - ultimate compact speaker 😇 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex vs Minirig MK3 and Marshall Emberton - best bluetooth speaker?
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- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Soundcore Motion 300 (LDAC) 😵 Budget Bose Soundlink Flex "Inspired" Speakers More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
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Tribit Stormbox: $68 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Tribit Stormbox 2, ranked higher, rated 3/5, released May 2024. It adds app control, adjustable EQ and AAC. Battery life goes from 20 to 24 hours. See every Tribit Stormbox and Stormbox 2 generation.
Pros: IPX7 water resistant, dual pairing for stereo setup, excellent battery life (20 hours), instant on/off buttons, 97dB max volume. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Muffled sounding, treble dips from 5kHz-12kHz. Listening from the front is the worst frequency response, lay it down facing up with xbass off for the smoothest response. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Discontinued; Tribit has retired it, superseded by the Tribit Stormbox 2.
Full Tribit Stormbox review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 68 x 68 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 45mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No (360° mono; true stereo requires two paired StormBox units) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (535 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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