Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker

Last updated: September 27, 2026

These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose Soundlink Micro 2 ranks #18 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $129; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #65 of 145 medium speakers by sound quality at $399.

Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker

Why pick the Bose Soundlink Micro 2: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Watch for: Lack of clarity.

The case for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker: Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room. The catch: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.

Buy the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 at $129 for a small speaker, or the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at $399 for a medium speaker instead.

If water resistance matters to you, the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at IPX4 (splashing).

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Bose Soundlink Micro 2 Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Price$129.00$399.00
Ranked#18 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#65 of 145 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYesYes (Bose Music)
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Built-in MicrophoneNoYes (far-field mic array, mic mute button)
EQYesYes (Bass/Treble)
IP RatingIP67IPX4
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2)
Power BankNoNo
Power InputUSB-CUSB-C
StereoNoNo
OmnidirectionalPointing upPointing up
TWSYes-
Weight0.7 lbs (329 g)2.3 lbs (1.06 kg)
Aux InputNoNo
Bluetooth CodecsAAC, aptX, SBCSBC, AAC
Bluetooth Version5.44.2
Dimensions4.1” x 4.1” x 1.7” (104 x 104 x 43 mm)7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D)
Charging Time3 hours-
Drivers40mm full-range driver with passive radiator1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators
Digital Aux InputNoNo
StrapYes (built-in strap)No
Wi-Fi-Yes
Voice Assistants-Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant
Streaming Services-AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose Soundlink Micro 2:

Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Micro 2 ranking card

Older model: the Bose Soundlink Micro (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5).

Pros: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Compact fabric strap for clipping to bags/bikes - replaces the 1st-gen’s hook clip, which was prone to breaking. USB-C charging. Surprisingly good bass when mounted outdoors, like on a bike.

Cons: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass that causes some thudding, and can overdrive/distort at higher volumes - worse in this regard than the 1st-gen model. Overly boosted treble, turn down bass and treble in the EQ. Falls clearly behind the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 on bass depth, cleanliness, and loudness.

AppYes
Aux InputNo
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsAAC, aptX, SBC
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Charging Time3 hours
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions4.1” x 4.1” x 1.7” (104 x 104 x 43 mm)
Drivers40mm full-range driver with passive radiator
EQYes
IP RatingIP67
OmnidirectionalPointing up
Party ModeYes (Bose Party mode)
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoNo
StrapYes (built-in strap)
TWSYes
Weight0.7 lbs (329 g)

Bose Portable Smart Speaker: $399.00 Bose eBay

Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranking card

Pros: Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built in, and RTINGS rates its microphones as excellent at hearing commands from far away or in a noisy room. It works as a Wi-Fi speaker at home (AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect) and as a Bluetooth speaker away from Wi-Fi, weighs about 1 kg with a carry handle, and is IPX4 splash resistant. SoundGuys measured 13 hours 6 minutes of playback at 75 dB, beating Bose’s 12 hour claim, and found the bass impressive for its size, especially near a wall or corner. Its 360 degree design spreads sound evenly around a room.

Cons: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it. Pushed to full volume, Tom’s Guide heard unbalanced sound and Pocket-lint found the bass struggling and turning incoherent. RTINGS measured only about 5 hours of battery in its own test. It is mono, has no aux input (the USB-C port only charges), uses Bluetooth 4.2, and the Bose Music app supports a limited list of streaming services. IPX4 covers splashes only, not submersion or dust.

AppYes (Bose Music)
Aux InputNo
Battery Life12 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, AAC
Bluetooth Version4.2
Built-in MicrophoneYes (far-field mic array, mic mute button)
Digital Aux InputNo
Dimensions7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D)
Drivers1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators
EQYes (Bass/Treble)
IP RatingIPX4
OmnidirectionalPointing up
Party ModeYes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2)
Power BankNo
Power InputUSB-C
StereoNo
StrapNo
Streaming ServicesAirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn
Voice AssistantsAmazon Alexa & Google Assistant
Weight2.3 lbs (1.06 kg)
Wi-FiYes