Bose has three worthwhile options at the smaller end of its classy Bluetooth speaker lineup. From smallest to largest, they are the Bose Soundlink Micro, the Bose Soundlink Flex, and the Bose Soundlink Revolve II.
These are the speakers to consider if you want something small enough to fit into a purse or small backpack that can offer much clearer and louder sound than you’ll get from your phone or laptop’s built-in speakers.
All three of these are excellent options; they offer Bose’s signature balance and careful, detailed delivery. As usual with Bluetooth speakers, the smaller options sacrifice a bit of soundstage, loudness, and bass performance, and the larger you go the more you get in these areas. We’ll describe those sonic differences as well as the feature differences in a nutshell below and then give our full takes and a roundup of what others have had to say.
Note that if you’re willing to carry a larger speaker (and spend a bit more) you may want to compare the Bose Soundlink Revolve II with its close big sibling the Soundlink Revolve+ II. And to go even a step up from that check out our coverage of the Bose Portable Home Speaker. Staying small, we have also compared the Bose Soundlink Micro with the Bose Soundlink Color II, an older offering that is still usually available.
Finally, if you’re willing to leave the Bose universe and want to hit the road with a speaker that’s durable, about the size of the Revolve II, and that delivers sweet, punchy, very loud sound, check out our travel speaker recommendation here.
Update History of This Article
Side-by-Side Quick Comparison: The Smallest Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speakers
| Name | Bose Soundlink Micro | Bose Soundlink Flex | Bose Soundlink Revolve II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |  |  |
| Our take in a nutshell | • Tiny—coat-pocket-sized really—and yet excels with even delivery and good separation, better than any other option we've heard at this size • Fully waterproof and dustproof ratings make this suitable for the wild outdoors; quite durable | • About twice as large and heavy but still quite portable; goes much louder and sounds better at top volumes, particularly in delivering at the low end • Fully waterproof and dustproof ratings make this suitable for the wild outdoors; quite durable | • A bit larger still, like a tall beverage can and a bit wider, delivers even, lush, room-filling 360-degree sound • Lower dust- and water- resistance ratings make this a more of an indoor option |
| Release Date | September 21, 2017 | October 2021 | April 8, 2021 |
| Notes | • Rubber back strap for attachment to handlebars and backpacks • Built-in microphone • Color: black | • Fabric utility loop allows hanging, but you'll need a carabiner • Built-in microphone • Colors: black, white smoke, stone blue | • Built-in microphone • Colors: triple black or luxe silver |
| Interface | • Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Multi-function button | • Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Multi-function button | • Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Input selection • Multi-function button |
| Connectivity | • Bluetooth 4.2 • Micro-B USB for charging | • Bluetooth 4.2 • USB-C for charging | • Bluetooth 4.1 • Micro-B USB for charging and playback • 3.5 mm auxiliary (headphone mini) input |
| Battery life (advertised) | 6 hours playtime and 4 hours charging time | 12 hours playtime and 4 hours charging time | 13 hours |
| Speakerphone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pair multiple units | Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app | Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app | Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app |
| Waterproof? | Fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67) | Fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67) | Water and dust resistant (IP55) |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| Width (in.) | 3.87 | 3.6 | 3.24 |
| Height (in.) | 3.87 | 7.9 | 5.97 |
| Depth (in.) | 1.37 | 2.1 | 3.24 |
| Width (cm.) | 9.83 | 9.14 | 8.23 |
| Height (cm.) | 9.83 | 20.1 | 15.16 |
| Depth (cm.) | 3.48 | 5.33 | 8.23 |
| Weight (kg.) | 0.29 | 0.59 | 0.68 |
| Weight (lbs.) | 0.64 | 1.3 | 1.50 |
| Check latest prices | Amazon BestBuy Bose | Amazon BestBuy Bose | Amazon BestBuy Bose |
The Positives of the Bose Soundlink Micro, Flex, and Revolve II and Key Feature Differences
All three of these are excellent speakers. Here are their positive points in terms of features and how they contrast from each other:
- Portability: Your first consideration will likely be how much speaker you’re willing to carry. The Bose Soundlink Micro is a just a bit bigger than the palm of a hand and at 0.64 lbs. / 0.29 kg doesn’t feel like much of a bother to add to a handbag or even coat pocket. The Bose Soundlink Flex is elongated to about twice the size and weight while still flat, and the Bose Soundlink Revolve II is just a bit bigger than that and cylindrical, like a tall can of soda.
- Attachment/carry options: The Bose Soundlink Micro has a lovely flexible rubber strap on its back that makes it easy to attach to anything (a backpack or messenger bag strap, a canoe, a tent post, a scooter or bike handlebar…). The Flex has a carry loop and you may want to get a carabiner or (our favorite for travel) a HeroClip to hang it from things—but note that then of course it will swing and bounce around while in motion, which is not ideal. The Revolve II is more of a stationary option that you’re likely to place on a coffee or picnic table (in the middle of your space in order to take advantage of its 360-degree delivery).
- Use near water: The Micro and Flex are completely IP67 waterproof and dustproof, meaning that they can survive under a meter of water for 30 minutes with no ill effect and don’t allow dust ingress. The Revolve II is IP55 dust and water resistant, meaning that you can expect it to survive the odd splash just fine, but you wouldn’t want to drop it in the bath or the pool. The Bose Soundlink Flex is the only one of the three that floats.
- All three have some degree of rubberized coating to enable them to withstand shocks and drops.
- The Micro, Flex, and Revolve II all have built-in microphones that allow you to use them as speakerphones to take calls and sound just fine to those on the other end of the calls. This feature is a rarity in current-generation Bluetooth speakers (perhaps because people don’t actually use it often).
- The (included) charging cables for the Micro and Revolve II are micro-USB and for the Flex USB-C (the newer standard). Most people at this point have a mix of devices using both types of cables and this is not a particularly important issue for most of us.
Clean, Balanced, Detailed Sound
Starting with the smallest of the three, the Bose Soundlink Micro is a bit of a miracle for its size. It offers richness and a satisfying thump in the low end. It of course does not dive as low into the bass end as larger speakers, but placed on a solid surface there is a surprising amount of kick.
The Micro also goes plenty loud enough to be heard outside in somewhat noisy environments and, to the ears of many internet critics and consumer organizations, it is at or quite near the list of best-sounding tiny speakers. Its delivery remains clean and even at top volumes, with only to some ears a hint of loss of composure at the very loudest. There is some sense of separation of instruments though of course this is far from an immersive sound experience.
If you’re willing to go twice as big, the Bose Soundlink Flex is a better performer in all ways. The frequency response remains even but it dives deeper and can create a fuller impression of the bass end. As with the Micro this performance is even better when positioned flat on a resonant surface.
The Flex offers a sweet tone and clarity in the mids and highs and is able to fill a small room with sound fairly well. Unlike some Bluetooth speakers that overly boost certain frequencies (especially bass), critics across the web (all quite positive) say that the Flex delivers richness that is suitable for all genres, including classical and jazz music.
The Bose Soundlink Revolve II is not a lot larger than the Flex but has a different sonic objective. The cylinder is designed to be placed in the middle of a space (especially indoors, where it excels) and throw sound out evenly in all directions. While it won’t sound as great as a full on home stereo system, it’s a reasonable enough replacement for lush, even, detailed production that you can take and place in any room. The evenness of the frequency response is similar, there is again a nice level of detail, and a quite solid impression of bass is delivered particularly when placed on a resonant surface. I very much enjoyed this speaker and though not a lot of other critics have reviewed it, the sound is essentially the same as the old version of the Revolve, which I covered here.
The Negatives
As with other Bose speakers, there is one basic downside to the Bose Soundlink Micro, Flex, and Revolve II; they are on the pricey side. Yes, we think they’re worth it. But we also think given the lowered expectations for portable speakers most sets of ears are satisfied enough with some cheaper options that also sound pretty great.
- If you want a cheaper option that’s almost exactly the same size as the Bose Soundlink Micro and just as waterproof and dustproof, note that we really enjoyed listening to and reviewing the Tribit Stormbox Micro.
- If you’re looking for something louder but still easy to carry around and cheaper than the Bose Soundlink Flex or Revolve, we’d recommend the JBL Flip 6, which we compared here with its predecessor Flip 5 (often still available for even cheaper).
The other small downsides to note with these ultraportable Bose speakers:
- The Bose Soundlink Revolve II is merely water and dust resistant. Many other speakers at this size and price are now completely IP67 waterproof and dustproof, including the Bose Soundlink Micro and Flex that we discuss in this review and the alternative JBL Flip 6 mentioned just above.
- The Bose Soundlink Micro has only six hours of battery life; opt for one of the larger options if you’re planning on being away from power for longer or else (as we recommend for travellers anyway) carry a good USB-C battery to recharge it.
Wrap-Up: Choosing Between the Bose Soundlink Micro, Flex, or Revolve II
Pricing is generally quite consistent but you can use the links below to check both Amazon in your country and the direct from Bose options.
Some reviewers and users complain that the black versions of these Bose speakers attract visible dust and lint. We find the Flex’s blue option to be particularly pleasing.
My personal favorite: The Flex. Fight it out with me in the comments if you dare.
Which one sounds better between the Flex and the Revolve+ 2 ?
Thanks for your review! AM trying to decide between Revolve, Flex, and JBL Flip 5 (or 6?). We play classical music at home and need a speaker for our TV, and I am adamantly against more wires. So bluetooth it is. Importantly, I want to connect two of them and get stereo, not “party mode.” More complicated, am having a party at a beach house this summer. Want this for when we sit at the beach and listen to music in the house. We are not rowdy people (we’re old), and I’m leaning toward the Revolve (I like the cleaner sound). But worried about the sand/dust issue.