Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II). It ranks #51 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $194. The JBL Grip ranks #85, rated 3.1/5, at $99.95, $94.05 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) does well: RTINGS measured a fairly neutral sound with a balanced midrange, so vocals and lead instruments come through clearly, and excellent directivity from the 360° design for an open, even sound around the room. The tradeoff: RTINGS found it lacks low bass, so there’s little deep thump or rumble.
Why pick the JBL Grip: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. The catch: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II). It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $94.05 with the JBL Grip does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Grip is rated at IP68 (extended submersion), well ahead of the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) at IP55 (water jets).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $194.00 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #51 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Bose Connect | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| EQ | - | Yes (7 band) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Drivers | - | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| Dimensions | - | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 16W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Strap | - | Yes (strap) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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 Revolve (Series II): $194.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Revolve (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: RTINGS measured a fairly neutral sound with a balanced midrange, so vocals and lead instruments come through clearly, and excellent directivity from the 360° design for an open, even sound around the room. In a side by side test against the Revolve+ II and B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen, several listeners preferred its clearer, less bass heavy tuning to the Revolve+ II. Up to 13 hours of battery, IP55 dust and water resistance, a built-in microphone for calls and voice assistants, and multi-connect for two devices at once.
Cons: RTINGS found it lacks low bass, so there’s little deep thump or rumble. It doesn’t get loud either: DXOMARK measured only about 73 to 74 dBA at maximum volume, against 85 to 89 dBA for speakers like the Sony SRS-XB43 in the same test, and bass compresses and pumps as you turn it up. There is no EQ in the Bose Connect app, a single unit plays mono, and it still charges over micro USB.
Full Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) review and specifications →
| App | Bose Connect |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 13 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- RTINGS: Bose SoundLink Revolve II Review More from Rtings.com →
- DXOMARK: Bose SoundLink Revolve II Speaker review
- SoundGuys: Bose SoundLink Revolve II review More from Soundguys →
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- Danny Pops: BEST Bose Speaker? Bose is getting lazy. More from DannyPops →
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JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons