Pros
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Larger than the original but still compact
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Best-in-class sound due to its compact size, with improved bass and clarity
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Fully water and dust resistant with an IP67 rating
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The integrated belt is removable and replaceable
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Double the original battery life (up to 12 hours)
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USB-C charging
cons
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Expensive for a small bluetooth speaker
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No speakerphone capabilities (no microphone)
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Despite the audio improvements, it still suffers from its audio limitations and sounds better up close
Not all product updates are created equal. When Bose upgraded its system QuietComfort Ultra Earphones and Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones To new “Second generation” models.they basically looked like their predecessors and ultimately didn’t look like true second generation products. However, after testing the new Soundlink Micro 2 Bluetooth speaker, I can confirm that it is a really big upgrade.
Read more: Best Bluetooth Speakers of 2025
It’s been eight years since the original Bose SoundLink Micro It was first introduced in 2017, so you hope the SoundLink Micro 2 is a completely revamped speaker. And it really is. Not only is it slightly larger than the original, and heavier by an ounce or so, but it’s equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C charging (instead of the old micro-USB), improved battery life, and yes, better sound quality. Plus it has a new strap to attach the speaker to your backpack, bike handlebar, or anything else. It is removable and replaceable.
The SoundLink Micro 2 is slightly larger than the original version but still small, and comes in two color options: blue or black.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay more for these improvements. The SoundLink Micro 2 costs $129, or $30 more than the original. That’s a lot of money for a speaker of this size, but it’s the best speaker in the ‘small’ category I’ve tested, and it has good build quality. Like a lot of Bluetooth speakers today, the SoundLink Micro 2 is completely water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating.
Improved clarity and better bass
The original SoundLink Micro was impressive because it managed to produce more bass than you’d think for such a small speaker, though it certainly had its limitations. The same goes for the SoundLink Micro 2 but it seems to produce at least 25% more bass (by my estimate) and sounds sharper too, with less distortion at higher volume levels.
The big caveat here is that the speaker can sound shockingly good with some audio tracks, especially well-recorded ones, and not so great with others. It also helps with listening at close range, 2 to 8 feet away from the speaker. The Micro 2 is really a personal speaker and not something that can fill a larger room. It is a good bathroom speaker that can be placed in the bathroom.
I left the speaker out in the rain for a while. She survived just fine.
Since it’s so powerful in the midrange where vocals live, and also provides good treble, this little speaker sounds best with podcasts and ballads. He also handles jazz, country, classical material, and even some electronic music well, but is more challenged by rock. Tracks like “She” by Elvis Costello, “My Future” by Billie Eilish, “Time Is on My Side” by the Rolling Stones, “The Pretenders’ Kid” (live), and “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgrave sound impressive. I even thought The Police’s Driven to Tears (remastered version) came with oomph and confidence for such a small speaker.
The struggle begins with more complex tracks that contain a lot of instruments, as well as with deeper bass. Tracks like Arctic Monkey’s 505 and Jvke’s Golden Hour sound clean and full up front when the speaker is dealing with just vocals and a single accompanying instrument. But once the track becomes more complex, the sound can start to feel a little empty. Things get a little intense when the strong electric guitar line kicks in on track 505, for example.
The new belt is removable and replaceable.
I’m telling you all this to temper your expectations for a small speaker, but I think the SoundLink Micro 2 will exceed most people’s expectations. When I put it up against similar small speakers like the Ultimate Ears Miniroll ($80) and Marshall Wellin 2which also included $130, wasn’t really a contest. Bose plays louder, delivers more bass and clearer sound. In terms of sound, it is also superior to JBL clip 4 And the new box style Speaker grip ($100), also a big step forward Tribet Stormbox Micro (about $60), which I still like as a value pick in the small Bluetooth speaker category.
Note that the SoundLink Micro 2 is a mono speaker but you can pair it with another Micro 2 to create a stereo pair. I haven’t tried that, but I did with the larger Bose Soundlink Flex Speaker, and the dual-speaker stereo setup greatly improves the sound.
I put it up against the less expensive UE Miniroll (left), which has a nice design and a decent little speaker, but the Miniroll can’t compete from a sound quality perspective.
Although this model is truly pocket-sized — and that’s certainly an attractive feature — the larger but compact SoundLink Flex sounds better and is also a better value. It is priced at $150 but its price sporadically drops to $130 or less, especially during the holiday buying season.
Improved battery life and Bluetooth 5.4, but no speaker
The original SoundLink Micro is only rated for up to 6 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. This second-generation model doubles its rated battery life to 12 hours, which is more in line with competing small speakers. Tribit’s Stormbox Micro is rated for 12 hours of playback while Marshsall’s Willen 2 is rated for up to 17 hours. Note that these numbers will decrease significantly if you turn up the volume.
It’s one of the best speakers for bikers, although it lacks speakerphone capabilities (it doesn’t have a microphone).
This model has Bluetooth 5.4, which isn’t technically the latest standard (Bluetooth 6.0 is just starting to roll out to devices), but it’s good as far as I’m concerned. The speaker’s wireless range is listed at 30 feet with “increased bandwidth” and I experienced no connectivity issues.
I’m a bit disappointed that the new SoundLink Micro 2 no longer has a built-in microphone, so you can’t use it as a phone speaker. I think Bose would say that most customers didn’t use the speakerphone feature on the original, but I liked it. The Micro 2 looks like a speakerphone and works well for calls, so it would be nice if it retained that feature.
Final thoughts on the Bose SoundLink Micro 2
You can definitely find Bluetooth speakers in this price range that offer bigger, better sound with more bass, including Anker Soundcore Boom 3i ($100) and Soundcore Boom 2 ($120). They’re better values than the Bose SoundLink Micro 2, which is a bit more expensive, but they’re also larger speakers.
I’ve tested a lot of small Bluetooth speakers and most of them don’t sound good and some sound downright bad. And while the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 certainly has its audio limitations, I’ve never encountered a Bluetooth speaker this compact that sounds as good as it does and is as well designed. That’s why it received a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
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