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Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2: review
The Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 is the sequel to the audio specialist’s 2017-issue mini Bluetooth speaker. And according to Bose, this palm-sized follow-up brings a fair few enhancements to the table: ‘improved audio performance’, ‘enhanced features’, and ‘extended battery life’. But is it actually worth buying? Here are my thoughts after several weeks of testing.
First of all, it has to be said that the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor — as you’d probably hope given that they were released eight years apart. Now, you get USB-C charging, and up to 12 hours of battery life, which is nothing special, but comparable to some similar-sized rivals from JBL and Ultimate Ears.
On top of that, its new and improved fabric strap is fantastic — it’s so easy to sling around shower heads, bikes, bags… you name it. Pair that with a still-great IP67 dust and waterproof rating — which enables the SoundLink Micro Gen 2 to survive being dunked under a meter of water for 30 minutes — and you’ve got a speaker that can go literally anywhere with you. Combine this with its small size and lightness of build, and Bose’s bijou audio companion is more practical than just about any model out there — even those listed in our best Bluetooth speakers guide.
Something else that has been improved is audio quality. And in fairness, the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 is a pretty solid-sounding model given its small size — but that’s not to say it’s perfect.
Bose has gone for a relatively balanced sound profile on the SoundLink Gen 2. Bass is pretty punchy, but never boomy or overstated. Mids are clean, but not the sole star. And treble is energetic, but not tinny — unless you’re listening at top volumes, but that’s something I’ll get onto later.
Anyway, when listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I was impressed by the tonality of vocals, and the way that the speaker replicated their almost breathy quality. The attack of violins in the intro wasn’t the most dynamic I’d heard, but it was certainly clean and distortion-free at mid volume levels. And after bumping bass up by a level on the Bose app, the pumping low end came through with decent impact too. Was I wowed by excellent instrument separation, pounding low-end performance, and top-tier detailing? No. But that’s to be expected on a speaker this small.
While we’re on this topic, it’s worth noting that the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 has a fair few sonic limitations, as a direct result of its compact form. You won’t get the bass thump that larger models — like the Bose SoundLink Plus, or even the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 — can muster. And if you push volume all the way to the maximum, you’re going to get pretty thin-sounding audio, with very noticeable compression and slightly shrill treble. But in this model’s defense, this is fairly standard for mini Bluetooth speakers — trust me, I’ve tested tons of them!
But still, this model did perform well, all things considered. In Felini by Venerus and Marco Castello, the precision of fingerpicking guitars and airy sound effects was commendable, and the two vocalists’ harmonies intertwined neatly.
Deeper tracks, like M-High’s Never Would don’t sound amazing on the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, as it struggles to handle the darkest parts of the frequency range. Still, standing upright, the speaker managed decently agile bass, and matched the track’s aggressive treble to good effect. Rivals like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 can produce a more weighty performance, but if you’re not listening to the heaviest tunes, that shouldn’t be a problem for you.
I’ll finish talking about sound by mentioning that the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 has strong codec support, with SBC, AAC, and even aptX Adaptive — if you’ve got a compatible device that is. There aren’t any wired playback options, though I suspect most users will be fine with using Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
So, the SoundLink Micro Gen 2 sounds pretty solid overall, but how does it perform elsewhere? Let’s step on over to the features domain.
This model isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary by Bose ‘s standards. It has multi-point connectivity, fast-pairing, and a shortcut button for Spotify or linking with another Bose speaker. And you can link with various other Bose speakers, luckily, including another SoundLink Micro Gen 2 for stereo, or models like the Bose SoundLink Max for generally bigger sound.
However, you can also rename the speaker in the Bose app (mine’s called Bite Size Party), enable or disable voice prompts, and alter EQ. As we’ve seen with many Bose products, the EQ settings are a little basic, with presets to boost or dampen bass or treble, and a three-band equalizer to adjust the bass, mids, and treble. However, this still works decently well.
I would’ve liked to have seen some more interesting features, like a personalized EQ test for more tailored audio, or hands-free calling, seen on the original SoundLink Micro (which had a built-in mic), but this model still has a good feature-set all in all.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this speaker, though, is its design. I’ve already mentioned its excellent fabric strap, which I’ve been using to attach the speaker to my shower, but there’s more. It has well-sized, responsive button controls, a rubber body that’s drop-resistant, and a classy range of color options. I used the Black version, but I’m partial to the Blue Dusk, Petal Pink, and Sandstone alternatives. Ultimately, this is a great-looking, compact, and waterproof speaker that really can go anywhere with you.
Still, there’s one thing that holds me back from recommending the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 outright: its price. This model comes in at $129 / £119.95 / AU$179.95, which is a lot for a speaker of this size. For reference, you can get our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker overall, the JBL Flip 7, for $149 / £129 / AU$179 at full price. And that model is considerably more powerful, offers far superior audio with awesome bass, and has more features to explore too. It’s also regularly discounted, and although it’s a little larger, remains highly portable.
Even if you wanted something as small as the Micro Gen 2, you could go for the JBL Clip 5, which retails for $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95, or the bass-heavy Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 for only $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149. I’m not convinced that the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 offers sound that’s good enough to warrant the extra cost. All of these other models are highly waterproof, sound strong, and look great to boot. So, even if Bose’s speaker performs fairly well across the board, it feels like a slightly tough sell.
And there you have it. The Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 is a very solid upgrade on its predecessor, and I was satisfied by its thoughtful design and improved sound quality. Ultimately, though, it doesn’t feel exceptional enough — either sonically or in terms of features — to earn its steep price-tag, meaning that I’d only recommend this above rivals — from the likes of JBL and UE — if you can get it on sale.
Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 review: price & release date
- List price of $129 / £119.95 / AU$179.95
- Released in August 2025
The Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 released in August 2025, eight years after its predecessor, the Bose SoundLink Micro. It comes in with a list price of $129 / £119.95 / AU$179.95, which represents a $10 / £20 / AU$30 increase over the original, at their respective launch points. However, there are a lot of improvements on this second model which make it the better pick over its ancestor. The SoundLink Micro Gen 2 is available in Black, Blue Dusk, Petal Pink, Sandstone, or Twilight Blue.
Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 review: specs
|
Weight |
0.7lbs / 0.3kg |
|
Dimensions |
1.7 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches / 43 x 104 x 104mm |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Battery life |
12 hours |
|
Speaker drivers |
1x dynamic driver, 2x passive radiators |
|
Waterproofing |
IP67 |
Should I buy the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
All the essentials are here, battery life is OK, but no mic and underwhelming EQ options. |
3.5/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Clear audio, with good codec support, but noticeable compression at higher volumes and size-related limitations hold it back. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
Durable yet stylish, with great waterproofing and a practical fabric strap. |
4.5/5 |
|
Value |
High price for its size, and rivals offer far better bang for your buck. |
2.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 review: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 |
JBL Clip 5 |
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$129 / £119.95 / AU$179.95 |
$79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95 |
$99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149 |
|
Weight |
0.7lbs / 0.3kg |
0.6lbs / 0.3kg |
0.9lbs / 0.4kg |
|
Dimensions |
1.7 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches / 43 x 104 x 104mm |
3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches / 86 x 134.5 x 46 mm |
4.1 x 3.8 x 3.8 inches / 104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
|
Battery life |
12 hours |
12 hours |
14 hours |
|
Speaker drivers |
1x dynamic driver, 2x passive radiators |
1x 45mm full-range driver, 1x passive radiator |
2x 40mm active drivers, 2x passive radiators |
|
Waterproofing |
IP67 |
IP67 |
IP67 |
How I tested the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2
- Tested over the course of multiple weeks
- Used in our music testing space and while showering
- Mainly tested using Tidal
I spent multiple weeks testing the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2, and spent hours listening in our music testing space at Future Labs, at home, and in the shower.
Most of the time, I listened to tunes via Tidal, on either my Samsung phone or the Nothing Phone (4a). To begin with, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tunes from a wide range of genres, but I also made sure to bump tracks from my personal library. I also tried using party mode, by connecting the speaker to my Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2.
More generally, I’ve tested more than 40 Bluetooth speakers here at TechRadar, and personally curated our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. I’ve reviewed all sorts of models, from premium Bose units, through to budget-friendly alternatives like the Tribit PocketGo. As a result, I have a strong understanding of the segment, and know exactly what it takes to stand out in a highly convoluted market.
Read the full article here
