Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 for better sound quality, the Xiaomi Mi Portable for the lower price. The Bose Soundlink Mini 2 ranks #55 of 136 medium speakers at $184. The Xiaomi Mi Portable ranks #58 at $55, $129 cheaper.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 gets right: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8. Set against that: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Mini.
What the Xiaomi Mi Portable offers: Good battery life for a 16W speaker - around 12 hours at moderate volume. The catch: A bit of a sharp treble.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Xiaomi Mi Portable if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the Xiaomi Mi Portable at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini 2 | Xiaomi Mi Portable | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $184.00 Discontinued | $55 |
| Ranked | #55 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #58 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 0.8 lbs / 373 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 33mm fullrange | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 8.4" x 2.9" x 2.9" (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
| TWS | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony XB33
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs JBL Flip 5
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony XB33
- Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Mini 2: $184.00 Discontinued Amazon
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech!
- 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Sony XB33
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs JBL Charge 4
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs DBSONO X-Blast F37
Xiaomi Mi Portable: $55 Amazon
Pros: Good battery life for a 16W speaker - around 12 hours at moderate volume. USB-C charging, stereo pairing support.
Cons: A bit of a sharp treble
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 2.9" x 2.9" (213 x 74 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/1A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 373 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony XB33
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip 5
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs JBL Flip 4
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Sony XB23
- Xiaomi Mi Portable vs Tronsmart Element Force