Short answer: the JBL Flip 7. It ranks #15 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $149.95; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75, rated 3.4/5, and costs $399, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Flip 7 is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A small, very neutral speaker with slightly deeper bass than before, a tougher waterproof build, and an app EQ. At 1.2 lbs (560 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IP68 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Watch for: A little bit of a bump at 4kHz, not quite as neutral as the JBL Flip 6.
The case for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker: A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. The catch: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
Buy the JBL Flip 7. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 7 | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Music) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Drivers | 45x80mm racetrack driver + 16mm tweeter | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 35W total (25W main + 10W tweeter) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.7” x 2.8” (182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm) | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V 7.5W-15W) | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (detachable PushLock accessory) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
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