Short answer: the Soundcore Glow. It ranks #43 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $80; the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 ranks #55 and costs $184, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Soundcore Glow offers: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Watch for: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume. Light effects and bass-boost noticeably shorten battery life. USB-C port doesn’t support power-bank charging.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Mini. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common.
Buy the Soundcore Glow. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Battery life favors the Soundcore Glow: rated for 18 hours against 10 hours for the Bose Soundlink Mini 2.
Water resistance is not close: the Soundcore Glow is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Glow | Bose Soundlink Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $184.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #43 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #55 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | ~58Hz |
| Max Volume | 100dB | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 33mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Proprietary connector |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
| Output Power | 30W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Pulse 5
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony SRS-XE300
- W-King D320 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs JBL Charge 3
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Glow: $80 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Cons: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume. Light effects and bass-boost noticeably shorten battery life. USB-C port doesn’t support power-bank charging.
Full Soundcore Glow review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Bose Soundlink Mini 2: $184.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Mini. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| 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 | 2x 33mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
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- techkiste.net: Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs the world ;) (Denon Envaya DSB250, Vifa Reykjavik, iRoar Go)
- Reddit Search for Bose Soundlink Mini 2 Review
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