The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) keeps the durable, waterproof design of its predecessor and makes minor improvements to the control interface. SoundGuys praised the rugged build and IP67 rating and called it a good match for outdoor use, while noting lackluster EQ options and minimal hardware upgrades from the original. A TechRadar user pointed to its day-to-day reliability and portability. It's a solid choice for anyone who wants a dependable portable speaker for travel or outdoor activities.
Full review
Identical shell to the 2021 Flex, with bigger feet
Physically this is the previous Flex with small revisions: the same slab shape, the same rubberised finish over a metal grille, and slightly larger feet on the back so it sits more securely when propped to fire upward. SoundGuys, which scored it 7.4 out of 10, is clear that the hardware changes are minor. The IP67 rating carries over, and TechRadar's reviewer, who used it daily for six months, described a speaker built to be taken anywhere without thinking about it.
Big bass for the size, thin EQ to shape it
The tuning is recognisably Bose: more low end than a speaker this size has any business producing, with the mid-bass pushed forward. That works for the outdoor listening it is designed around and less well if you want neutrality. The app offers a three-band EQ and little else, and reviewers consistently call the EQ options lacklustre, with no parametric control and no meaningful preset library. TechRadar scored it 4 out of 5.
Twelve hours, USB-C, no aux
Battery life is rated at twelve hours and holds volume steadily through a long session rather than sagging at the end. Charging is USB-C. What is missing is an aux input: there is no wired path in at all, so an older phone, a laptop with a headphone socket or a hotel television cannot feed it. For a speaker at this price that is the most consequential omission, and it is clearly a deliberate one.
The app is where owners lose patience
The recurring complaint is software. Owner reviews describe firmware updates that download and then fail to install, a menu structure that buries the settings that matter, and trouble keeping the speaker switched cleanly between a laptop and a phone. Stereo pairing with a second Flex is meant to be a headline feature and is reported failing outright with a device-not-found error. None of this is fatal to a speaker most people pair once, but it undercuts the premium the badge asks for.
Physical buttons that need a firm press
The control strip is more recessed than the previous generation and adds a dedicated play and pause key, which is the right change. The buttons themselves are mushy and want a deliberate press to register, fine with dry hands and less so with wet ones, and behind what rivals manage. Set against the improvements, this is a refinement rather than a replacement: anyone who already owns the first Flex has little reason to upgrade, which is the honest reading of SoundGuys' 7.4.
Strengths
- +IP67 rugged build for dust and water resistance
- +Durable rubberized finish with metal speaker grill
- +Improved control strip with dedicated Play/Pause button
- +Available in multiple color options including Alpine Sage
Watch-outs
- −Lackluster EQ options
- −Minimal upgrades from 1st Gen
How it compares
The Bose SoundLink Flex offers a rugged IP67 build and improved control strip, but lacks the EQ customization of the JBL Charge 6 and the advanced features of the JBL Boombox 4. Compared to the Soundcore Boom 3, it provides better sound quality and durability, though it has minimal upgrades from its predecessor. Unlike the Bose SoundLink Max, it's more affordable but lacks powerful bass and call functionality.
Rating sources
Our 3.9 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
