Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. It ranks #55 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $184; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #120 and costs $200, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Mini. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common.
What the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 offers: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone. Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Skip the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers.
If water resistance matters to you, the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini 2 | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $184.00 Discontinued | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #55 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #120 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 33mm fullrange | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | Micro USB |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Turtlebox Ranger vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4
- JBL Charge 6 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Mini 2: $184.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Mini. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 33mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
- Patricio Benadon: Bose SoundLink Flex vs. Mini 2 SE. Music audio quality sound test. Listen 4 different genres!
- techkiste.net: Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs the world ;) (Denon Envaya DSB250, Vifa Reykjavik, iRoar Go)
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Mini 2 Review
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Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs LG Xboom XG5
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Ultimate Ears Roll 2
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- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Sony SRS-XE200
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs W-King D8 Mini
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