Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III, if you are buying new. The Bose Soundlink Mini ranks higher than it (#74 vs #126 of 175 medium speakers, 3.4/5 vs 2.7/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Marshall Emberton III is still sold new at $129.99.
The Bose Soundlink Mini is the better-sounding option. Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, tougher option. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 7 for the Bose Soundlink Mini. It is rated IP67, while the Bose Soundlink Mini has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Mini lacks. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III, since the Bose Soundlink Mini is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #74 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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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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Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon $129.99 eBay
Older models: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the Marshall Emberton (ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).
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. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).
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 Marshall Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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