Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks #12 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $49.99; the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 ranks #18 and costs $99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Ultimate Ears Miniroll side: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. Set against that: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers.
What the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 gets right: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. The catch: Lack of clarity.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Miniroll | Bose Soundlink Micro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #12 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| Output Power | 3W RMS | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Max Volume | 83dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Willen II vs JBL Clip 4
- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Clip 4
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Go 5
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon
Pros: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size.
Cons: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
Full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 83dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 3W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen II
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Klipsch Austin
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- See all 19 comparisons
Bose Soundlink Micro 2: $99.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Compact fabric strap for clipping to bags/bikes - replaces the 1st-gen’s hook clip, which was prone to breaking. USB-C charging. Surprisingly good bass when mounted outdoors, like on a bike.
Cons: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass that causes some thudding, and can overdrive/distort at higher volumes - worse in this regard than the 1st-gen model. Overly boosted treble, turn down bass and treble in the EQ. Falls clearly behind the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 on bass depth, cleanliness, and loudness.
Full Bose Soundlink Micro 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Clip 5
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Marshall Willen
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Clip 4
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- See all 18 comparisons