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  1. Home
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Bose SoundLink Max vs SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)

Which Speaker Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      PicturesStylePortabilityBuild QualityControlsIn The Box
    Sound
      Frequency Response AccuracyRaw Frequency ResponseSoundstageDynamics
    Active Features
      BatteryVoice AssistantApp
    Connectivity
      WiredBluetoothWi-Fi
    Comments

Products

Bose SoundLink Max
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) 
early access

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jan 08, 2026 03:19 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jan 30, 2026 03:45 PM

This review is in Early access

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Bose SoundLink Max Picture
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Picture
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
No
Battery Powered
Yes
Bluetooth
Locked
Wi-Fi
Locked
Speakerphone
Locked
Voice Assistant
Locked
Battery Powered
Locked
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
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  3. Bose

Our Verdict

Bose SoundLink Max

Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
0 

Variants

  • SoundLink Max (Black)
  • SoundLink Max (Blue Dusk)
  • SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) (Black)
  • SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) (Blue Dusk)

Review

See Bose SoundLink Max Review
See Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Review
26 
0 

Check Price

Black
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Sandstone
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

7.4
0.0
No major differences between these speakers for music. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max Style Photo
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

RGB Lights  

No
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

8.9
N/A

Dimensions Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max Dimensions Photo
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Volume 
 

222 in³ (3,644 cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Battery & USB
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.7
N/A

Build Quality Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max Build Quality Photo
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Material Quality 
 

Good
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Submersible (IPx7)
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Dust-Proof (IP6x)
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Yes (IK rating unspecified)
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Controls 
 

7.8
N/A

Controls Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max Controls Photo
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Controls Photo 2 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max Controls Photo 2
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Ease Of Use 
 

Good
Locked

Feedback 
 

Good
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Yes (Physical)
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Yes (Physical)
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Yes (Physical)
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Yes (Physical)
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

No
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max In The Box Photo
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

7.2
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

 Preview Graph
Bose SoundLink Max Frequency Response Graph
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Slope 
 

-0.21
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

2.65 dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

52.6 Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.8 kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

 Preview Graph
Bose SoundLink Max Raw Frequency Response Graph
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

GET INSIDER ACCESS

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

GET INSIDER ACCESS

Soundstage 
 

7.8
N/A

Directivity Graph  

 Preview Graph
Bose SoundLink Max Directivity Graph
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Directivity Index 
 

4.23 dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

7.6
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

 Preview Graph
Bose SoundLink Max Dynamic Range Compression
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.7 dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

2.55 dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

8.8
N/A

Battery Life 
 

15.5 hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

3.7 hrs
Lock hrs

Power Saving 
 

Yes
Locked

Charging Port 
 

USB-C
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

0.0
N/A

Alexa 
 

No
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

No
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

No
Locked

Siri 
 

No
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

No
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

No
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

No
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

No Microphone
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

No Microphone
Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

7.9
N/A

App Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Bose SoundLink Max App Picture
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

App Name 
 

Bose
Locked

iOS 
 

Yes
Locked

Android 
 

Yes
Locked

EQ 
 

Graphic + Presets
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Yes
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Yes
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

No
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Yes
Locked

USB Audio 
 

No
Locked

Other Ports 
 

No
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

8.6
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

5.4
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

106 ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

84 ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

334.6 ft (102.0 m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

2 Devices
Locked
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

0.0
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

No Wi-Fi
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

No Wi-Fi
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

No
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

No
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Black
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Sandstone
SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Back to Top

Bose SoundLink Max

Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 hour ago

Bose SoundLink Max vs Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen): Main Discussion

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