We ran an exhaustive meta-analysis on Bose’s Bluetooth speakers, and what major European and American consumer organizations had to say about them. We also took into account the commentary from all sorts of audiophile critics and tech bloggers.
Which is best for whom among the Bose Soundlink Revolve, the Bose Soundlink Mini II, or the Bose Soundlink Color II? To answer, we considered the reviewers’ contexts and biases, and averaged out the opinions.
We’ll start with a quick side-by-side comparison, then sum up our findings.
We’ve also run a separate comparison of the Bose Soundlink Color II with the smallest Bose speaker yet, the Bose Soundlink Micro.
Update History of This Article
Side-by-Side Comparison: Bose Soundlink Revolve, Bose Soundlink Mini II, and Bose Soundlink Color II
Bose Soundlink Revolve
Biggest, excellent and detailed 360-degree output, fullest bass
• Size: 7.1 in. tall, 3.25 in. in diameter (18 cm tall, 8.3 cm in diameter)
• Weight: 1.46 lbs. (.662 kg)
• Sound: Full bass (though too much for some tastes), excellent clarity and detail
• 360-degree output: Impressive evenness, sounds the same on any side, meant to be placed in the middle of the party
• Can pair two for stereo: Via iOS and Android apps
• Splashproof: Rated IPX4
• 12-hour battery
• Charging cable and wall plug included, charging cradle sold separately
Bose Soundlink Mini II
Great clarity and soundstage
• Size: 7.1 x 2.3 x 2 in. (18 x 5.8 x 5.08 cm)
• Weight: 1.5 lbs (.68 kg)
• Sound: Good clear, detailed “soundstage” for picking out all instruments in a crowded piece of music
• Directional: Sounds best when you’re right in front of the speaker
• Charging cradle included
• 10-hour battery
We’re generally only seeing the Soundlink Mini II available used at Amazon.
More likely to be available new right now: The Bose Soundlink Mini II Special Edition direct from Bose
Bose Soundlink Color II
Good clarity and even sound, rugged, cheaper, not as loud
• Size: 2.2 x 5 x 5.2 in. (5.6 x 12.7 x 13.2 cm)
• Weight: 1.2 lbs (.544 kg)
• Sound: Clear, even delivery; above-average sound for its size and price but most critics prefer the other two
• Directional: Sounds best when you’re right in front of the speaker
• Splashproof: Rated IPX4
• USB charging cable included, no wall plug
• 8-hour battery
Critical Meta-Review: How the Bose Soundlink Revolve Beats Out the Mini II and Color II in (Almost) Every Way

Critics’ comparisons of these speakers to each other vary, even to the point of contradictory (see the popdown box below if you want your head to hurt, or skip it if you just want the conclusions).
The Expert Testing Panels and their Array of Wildly Conflicting Opinions
Here are the agreed commonalities of the Bose Soundlink Revolve, Mini II, and Color II:
- All offer excellent speakerphone functions.
- Testing shows that the battery-life for all three is as Bose claims.
- All offer easy Bluetooth pairing with voice prompts to guide you along.
The Revolve is definitely better than the other two speakers for outside use; aside from performing best when placed in the middle of the action, it’s rugged and splash resistant.
Another key point: If you buy two Revolves (now or eventually) you can link them up to create true stereo sound, or else just a bigger party, via the Bose Connect iOS or Android apps.
Most critics think that the Bose Soundlink Mini II also sounds excellent, delivering one of the most careful, detailed soundstages of any speaker its size. They point out that while the Revolve will better animate a party (sound better to a group when it’s placed in the middle), the Soundlink Mini II sounds better when you’re directly in front of it, giving a sense of “placement” to the various instruments in a complex piece of music. The Mini II might not be as powerful on the bass department, but it’s not skimping on bass either and delivers a powerful low end for such a small speaker.If you’re looking for great sound that you can use in the corners of various rooms in the house, and take sometimes on trips to use in a hotel room, this is the best Bose to choose.
Reviewers generally feel that the cheaper Bose Soundlink Color II is a quality speaker that delivers reasonably good mids and highs for its size and price; it’s a bit more portable but not as powerful or durable as my favorite travel speaker.Compared to the Bose Soundlink Revolve and Bose Soundlink Mini II, the Bose Color II offers reasonable detail, although it’s a bit harder to pick out all of the instruments in a crowded song, and it doesn’t provide as fulfilling an experience on the bass end. The Color II has a rubberized housing so it’s the most rugged of these three speakers — it’s likely to survive getting knocked off a table and keep playing. It’s also splash resistant.
How the Bose Soundlink Revolve and Revolve + Stack Up Against their Competition
The JBL Charge 3 or Charge 4 go louder, have better battery life, and are more rugged than these Bose speakers. They’re also generally cheaper.
The Fugoo Sport is practically indestructible and has an insane 40-hour battery, far more than most people actually need.
Wrap-Up
Get the Best Deal on Bose Speakers by Checking These Shops
While Bose prices tend to be about the same no matter where you shop, you can check various options for the latest by clicking through here.
Also, using our links to Amazon or other vendors when you buy helps keep our little obsessive research project afloat. Thanks!
Excellent Review!