Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3. It ranks #6 against the Bose’s #20 out of 62 small speakers, and it costs less too, so the case for the Bose is thin.
Both speakers have real bass tuning complaints, but the Bose’s problem sounds more fundamental. Its cons describe a lack of clarity along with overly boosted bass, while its pros lean on being rugged, IP67-rated, and very compact. The Stormbox Micro 3’s cons flag thuddy, distorted bass by default that needs an EQ adjustment to fix, which you can dial in using the EQ settings on its own page, and it does measure slightly deeper bass extension than its predecessor.
Battery life and connectivity both favor the Tribit by a wide margin. It runs 24 hours on a charge against just 6 hours for the Bose, adds a 9-band EQ and USB-C power bank function the Bose lacks entirely, and carries a higher IP68 water rating against IP67. The Bose does hold onto Bose Party Mode for multi-speaker linking, which the Stormbox Micro 3 doesn’t offer.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 for the better battery life, higher water rating, and lower price, and plan to spend a few minutes in the EQ to fix the default bass tuning.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Micro only if Bose Party Mode or its rugged rubberized build specifically matter more to you than battery life and price.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof pocket speaker with a built in strap, party pairing, and low Bluetooth delay for video.
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 | Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $56.76 |
| Ranked | #20 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (9 Band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 90dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (289 g) | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 6.0 |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.4” (98 x 98 x 35 mm) | 4.4” x 4.2” x 1.8” (112 x 107.9 x 45 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm with dual passive radiators | 48mm NdFeB driver with coaxial passive radiators |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Amplifier Power | 5W | 13W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
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