The Bose Soundlink Flex (2nd Gen) is the follow-up to the Bose SoundLink Flex. The sequel has a very similar design to its predecessor; it's still a small, portable, lightweight speaker that can accompany you on picnics or soundtrack kitchen dance parties, but there are a few notable changes. The control strip has been redesigned: it now has an easier-to-find Power button and a new Play/Pause button. And, unlike the predecessor, the speaker's companion app now has a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound. But does it have the same well-balanced sound out of the box? Read on to find out.
Our Verdict
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is alright for listening to music. By default, its treble and mid-ranges are well-balanced, presenting instruments and vocals with detail and clarity. Cymbals have just the right amount of sizzle without sounding piercing. Of course, this is a small speaker, so it lacks low-end thump and won't get loud enough to fill more than an average-sized room. There's enough warmth to keep dance music feeling full and engaging, but you'll need a bigger speaker if you plan to shake the floor (or get your garden party groovin'). Still, its companion app has a 3-band graphic EQ for sound tweaking, and you can also pair it with other second-generation SoundLink Flexes to get stereo sound, which can feel more immersive.
Companion app has a graphic EQ.
Needs a second unit to produce stereo audio.
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is sub-par for watching videos and movies, but as a lightweight, portable speaker, it's not designed for this purpose. It isn't large enough to reproduce the low rumbles of sound effects like explosions, and it only works in mono, so it doesn't produce audio that feels immersive or enveloping. That said, you can link two of these together via the companion app to get stereo sound. Its treble and mid-ranges are well-balanced and reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately, so it'll work for this usage in a pinch, but you might be bothered by the lip-sync issues between your audio and video.
Uses Bose SimpleSync to connect with other Bose Smart Speakers or Smart Soundbars.
Needs a second unit to produce stereo audio.
Compression at maximum volume.
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is good for podcasts. It has a well-balanced mid-range that renders dialogue accurately and clearly. It's portable enough to take with you from room to room, but it doesn't produce enough volume to fill larger rooms or gardens. You can place it either lying down or standing up, and it'll work well in the average kitchen so long as you ensure it's facing you most of the time, as it isn't a 360-degree speaker.
Uses Bose SimpleSync to connect with other Bose Smart Speakers or Smart Soundbars.
Companion app has a graphic EQ.
Mono, front-facing speaker results in less immersive sound.
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is mediocre as a voice assistant because it doesn't have built-in voice-assistant capabilities. However, you can use it with your phone's Siri or Google Assistant, and it'll do an acceptable job; it will pick up your voice from far away and register what you're saying even in a noisy room.
Excellent far-field performance.
No built-in voice assistants.
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is decent for the outdoors. It's remarkably portable and has excellent build quality, so it's a good choice for park hangs or hikes, especially since its IP67 rating means it'll survive being accidentally dropped in a shallow puddle. You can place it either standing up or lying down, and it will adjust its sound accordingly. If you're on a stroll, you can even attach the side strap to your backpack. Its battery life of roughly six to seven hours will get you through all but the longest hangs and hikes. Nonetheless, this small speaker doesn't get super loud, and its speakers are front-facing, so it doesn't produce 360-degree audio.
IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
Compression at maximum volume.
Changelog
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Updated Feb 05, 2026:
We mentioned the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) in the Portability section of this review.
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Updated Aug 26, 2025:
The Style section was updated to mention the Bose SoundLink Plus.
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Updated Jun 25, 2025:
The Differences Between Variants and Style boxes were updated to add the 'Citrus Yellow' and 'Petal Pink' colorways.
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Updated Jun 13, 2025:
We mentioned the LG xboom Grab in the Battery section of this review.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen comes in six color variants: 'Black,' 'Alpine Sage,' 'Sandstone,' 'Blue Dusk,' 'Citrus Yellow,' and 'Petal Pink.' We tested the 'Black' variant, and this is its label. We expect our results to be consistent between variants.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review accordingly.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen is the sequel to the Bose SoundLink Flex. The two generations have very similar designs, but the 2nd Generation features a redesigned control strip, a companion app with a graphic EQ, and support for AAC and aptX codecs.
Both generations of SoundLink Flex have front-facing speakers that produce a very directional sound. If you're looking for speakers that sound the same no matter what angle you're listening from, the 360-degree design of the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 makes it a good alternative. While the SoundLink Flexes also both work with your phone's built-in voice assistants, if hands-free control is important to you, the Sonos Roam 2 is an excellent choice, as it has Amazon Alexa and Sono's own voice assistant built in.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best speakers under $100.
The JBL Charge 6 and the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) are both portable speakers designed for everyday and outdoor use, but they have different strengths. The JBL is larger, has a longer battery life, and gets louder. It also supports Auracast multi-speaker pairing with other Auracast-enabled JBL speakers, making it ideal for bigger spaces or group listening if you've a suite of compatible models. On the other hand, the Bose is smaller, lighter, and easier to carry. It offers a more balanced sound at moderate listening levels than the JBL, but only pairs with other 2nd Gen SoundLink Flexes.
The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) suits a wider variety of use cases than the JBL Flip 6. The main plus of the JBL is its slightly wider-sounding soundstage. On the other hand, the Bose produces a deeper bass than the JBL and does an excellent job supporting voice assistants through your phone. However, if soundstage is extremely important to you, you could also consider getting a second Soundlink Flex (2nd Gen) and pairing them together.
The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) and the JBL Charge 5 are very comparable portable speakers with different strengths. Both speakers have IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance, and both have flat mid-ranges that render instruments and dialogue alike with accuracy and detail. In our tests, the JBL's battery lasted a lot longer than the Bose's, but battery life varies with usage. If voice assistants are important to you, you'll want the Bose, as it does an excellent job supporting voice assistants through your smartphone.
The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is a smaller, more portable option compared to the Bose SoundLink Plus. The two speakers perform similarly when it comes to sound, shaving off some bass but maintaining balanced mid and treble responses. You can adjust their sound profiles via the graphic EQ and presets in the app, though both speakers are limited to mono-only playback. The SoundLink Plus has a longer, almost 20-hour battery life. While the SoundLink Flex's battery life is only a third of this, you're faced with a less daunting 2.4-hour charge time (as opposed to 4.6 with the larger speaker). If you're a voice assistant user, you'll likely favor the SoundLink Flex, though, which can work with compatible voice assistants on your phone and has an excellent microphone.
Test Results
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