These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose Soundlink Flex ranks #38 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Zealot S97 ranks #66 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $79.98.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the lighter pick. 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 much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). The tradeoff: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The case for the Zealot S97: A budget boombox with surprisingly deep bass for its size, waterproofing, power bank outputs, and microSD and aux playback. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Flex lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Bose Soundlink Flex. The catch: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex ($79.99) for a medium speaker; the Zealot S97 ($79.98) suits a large speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $79.98 |
| Ranked | #38 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 80W |
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