Short answer: the KEF Muo gen2, if you are buying new. The Bose Soundlink Mini ranks higher than it (#74 vs #97 of 175 medium speakers, 3.4/5 vs 3.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the KEF Muo gen2 is still sold new at $249.99.
SoundLink Mini has a compact aluminum build that feels sturdy and dense, but like most Bose portables it boosts upper bass while rolling off treble, and mainboard failures are a common complaint.
Muo gen2 fixes some of the rolled-off treble and balance issues from the original Muo, but bass distorts as volume increases and its claimed 43Hz extension is only really audible at low listening volumes.
Buy the SoundLink Mini only if you find one cheap secondhand, since Bose has discontinued it and mainboard failures are common. Buy the Muo gen2 if you specifically want KEF’s updated tuning and don’t mind paying twice as much for it.
Water resistance is not close: the KEF Muo gen2 is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Bose Soundlink Mini at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | KEF Muo gen2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #74 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #97 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 1.6 lbs (740 g) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 8.5” x 3.2” x 2.3” (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 kHz 24 bit |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | USB-C |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | - | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 40W |
| Maximum SPL | - | 90dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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: $125.00 Discontinued Amazon $125.00 eBay
Newer model: the Bose Soundlink Mini 2, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Jul 2015 (also discontinued). It adds stereo pairing. Battery life goes from 7 to 10 hours. See every Bose SoundLink Mini generation.
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
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KEF Muo gen2: $249.99 Amazon $249.99 eBay
Pros: KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance
Cons: Lacking deeper bass. Very thuddy bass. Appears to be the exact same hardware but with updated tuning. Bass distorts as volume increases, and the claimed 43Hz extension is really only audible at low listening volumes, with a few seconds of lag after volume changes. Loses most of its bass off-axis. Customer reviews are mixed, ranging from praise for detail at low volume to complaints of a boxy, hollow sound.
Full KEF Muo gen2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 kHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3.2” x 2.3” (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 90dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (740 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons