Short answer: the Stormbox Micro 3. It ranks #6 of 62 small speakers against the Bose’s #18, and it costs $72.24 less, so there is little reason to pick the Bose here.
Both speakers have real bass problems by their own admission, but the Bose’s are worse. Its cons describe “overly boosted bass that causes some thudding” and note it “can overdrive/distort at higher volumes,” worse in this regard than the original Soundlink Micro, plus overly boosted treble that needs EQ correction. The notes even say the Bose “falls clearly behind the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2” on bass depth, cleanliness, and loudness, and the Micro 3 is the newer, higher-ranked model in that same lineup. The Micro 3 isn’t perfect either: its cons flag thuddy, distorted bass by default that also needs an EQ to fix, but its higher rank means the extra work pays off in results the Bose can’t match.
Battery life clearly favors the Stormbox Micro 3: it’s rated for 24 hours against the Bose’s 12 hours, and it doubles as a USB-C power bank, something the Bose doesn’t offer at all.
What the Bose has that the Stormbox Micro 3 doesn’t:
- Bose Party Mode for linking multiple Bose speakers together.
- aptX Bluetooth codec support, on top of AAC and SBC shared by both.
- A fabric carry strap built for clipping to bags or bikes, which its own pros note replaces a hook clip on the original Micro that was prone to breaking; the notes even say bass sounds surprisingly good when the speaker is mounted outdoors this way.
Everything else is close: both weigh about 0.7 lbs (330 g), both have an app with EQ, both support TWS pairing, and both charge over USB-C.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 for the better overall ranking, longer battery life, and the built-in power bank, and just dial in the EQ to tame its default bass.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 only if the bike/bag mounting strap and Bose Party Mode matter enough to you to accept a lower rank and a higher price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof mini speaker with a fabric strap for bags and bikes and USB-C charging.
A tough strap on mini speaker with full waterproofing, a 24 hour battery and a power bank output.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Micro 2 | Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $56.76 |
| Ranked | #18 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (9 Band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (329 g) | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 4.1” x 1.7” (104 x 104 x 43 mm) | 4.4” x 4.2” x 1.8” (112 x 107.9 x 45 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator | 48mm NdFeB driver with coaxial passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 13W |
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