Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $79.99. The Tronsmart T8 ranks #54, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99, $30 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the lighter option. 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 noticeably less than the Tronsmart T8 at 1.8 lbs (800 g). The tradeoff: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The Tronsmart T8 is the longer-running choice. An affordable waterproof speaker with upward firing drivers that spread sound around, plus lights, app EQ, an aux input and stereo pairing. It is rated for 18 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Soundlink Flex. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. The tradeoff: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $30 with the Tronsmart T8 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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 | Tronsmart T8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #38 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #54 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (lanyard) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
| Charging Time | - | 4.5 hours |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bose Soundlink Flex: reviews by Joy & Oluv’Sone, Oluv and Alan Ross.
- Tronsmart T8: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa, Techder Audios and Jagist.
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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