Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks #56 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $125; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #99 and costs $165.04, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Watch for: 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.
What the Marshall Emberton III offers: 30 hour battery life - among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Emberton III is rated for 32 hours versus 10 hours for the Bose Soundlink Mini.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Emberton III at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose Soundlink Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $165.04 |
| Ranked | #56 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | USB-C |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| TWS | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 20W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Emberton II vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- JBL Flip 7 vs Marshall Emberton II
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Marshall Emberton II
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Marshall Emberton III
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Mini: $125.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
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 →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony XB33
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Turtlebox Ranger
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Beats Pill 2024
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs JBL Charge 4
- See all 75 comparisons
Marshall Emberton III: $165.04 Amazon eBay
Pros: 30 hour battery life - among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic.
Cons: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton III vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 74 comparisons