Short answer: the Harman Kardon Luna. It ranks #26 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $290.99 and is still sold new; the Bose Soundlink Mini ranks #74 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Harman Kardon Luna is the better-sounding, longer-running pick. The sound is fairly balanced apart from the boosted bass. It is rated for 12 hours of battery against 7 for the Bose Soundlink Mini. It is rated IP67, while the Bose Soundlink Mini has no water resistance. The catch: Boosted bass, and less detailed than higher-ranked speakers.
The Bose Soundlink Mini is the lighter choice. Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs much less than the Harman Kardon Luna at 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Harman Kardon Luna lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Harman Kardon Luna. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
Buy the Harman Kardon Luna. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Bose Soundlink Mini is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Luna | Bose Soundlink Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $290.99 | $125.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #74 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.1” x 3.1” (210 x 78 x 80 mm) | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | No |
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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
Harman Kardon Luna: $290.99 Amazon $290.99 eBay
Newer model: the Harman Kardon Luna 2, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5, released Mar 2026. It adds app control and adjustable EQ. See every Harman Kardon Luna generation.
Pros: Harman Kardon Luna uses 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter. Its 1.13 kg, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. The sound is fairly balanced apart from the boosted bass. Measured bass extension of 57Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 57Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Boosted bass, and less detailed than higher-ranked speakers.
Full Harman Kardon Luna review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.1” x 3.1” (210 x 78 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 48mm x 90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon Luna - sound demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Onyx Studio 9 or Go Play 3? Or even the HK Luna?? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beats Pill vs Harman Luna vs Bose Flex vs Soundcore Motion Plus
- Mateusz Cholewa: Harman Kardon Luna 2 UNBOXING vs HK Luna Short Test More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Storytripper HD: Harman Kardon Luna vs Luna 2 More from storytripperhd →
- Storytripper HD: Klipsch Nashville vs Harman Kardon Luna vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Storytripper HD: Huawei Sound Joy 2 vs Tribit XSound Plus 2 vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Luna vs Harman Kardon Luna 2
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- Harman Kardon Luna vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- Harman Kardon Luna vs Soundcore Boom 3i
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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) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
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- See all 92 comparisons