I’m not sure what kind of engineering wizardry goes into Bose’s Bluetooth speakers; all I know is that, since the SoundLink Mini II, they’ve sounded clearer and better than any competitors in the same size range. The $149 SoundLink Flex is Bose’s latest portable speaker, and it lives up to its reputation.
Despite the fact that it just has a single driver, the SoundLink Flex produces spacious sound with a genuinely astonishing amount of bass. And, most importantly, the low end isn’t muddy or boomy. This speaker is rich and clear in every way. That’s even more unexpected given that it only supports the basic SBC Bluetooth codec rather than AAC or the more powerful LDAC. Nonetheless, this speaker sounds fantastic.
The battery life is approximately 12 hours, and the SoundLink Flex, like many other speakers in this guide, is designated IP67 for dust and water protection. Bose is convinced that it will resist tumbles and swimming. The Flex will automatically tune the EQ for any orientation, whether you lay the speaker flat or stand it upright. It also performs better than others as a speakerphone thanks to the built-in microphones. Not everything about the SoundLink Flex is ideal: its buttons aren’t easy to use only by feel, and it’s odd that Bose chose Bluetooth 4.2 over a newer version of the standard.
There are no major sticking points and as such, the Soundlink Flex is a WIN.
Number 2. SONOS Roam ($180)
