Pros & Cons
-
- Rich audio response for its size
- Impressive clarity in the high end
- Improved battery life
- Durable build
-
- Expensive
- Limited bass response
Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) Specs
| Bluetooth | |
| Built-In Voice Assistant | None |
| Channels | Mono |
| Physical Connections | USB-C |
| Portable | |
| Water-Resistant |
The $129 Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) has an improved audio response compared with the 2017 original model, and nearly doubles the battery life. We like the compact size and the durable build, and it remains a good option for fans of Bose's industrial design. However, like many speakers this size, the SoundLink Micro struggles to reproduce low frequencies and doesn't support high-resolution audio. The competition has also improved. The $79.99 Anker Soundcore Motion 300 remains our Editors' Choice winner for affordable outdoor Bluetooth speakers, thanks to its richer audio, stronger durability, and support for high-res audio, all for a lower price.
Design: A Familiar Face
The second-gen Bose SoundLink Micro speaker looks a lot like its predecessor. It features a sturdy, rubberized exterior with a row of controls that sit above a speaker grille. The speaker measures 4.0 by 4.0 by 1.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 11.6 ounces. That's slightly larger and heavier than the first-generation version (3.9 by 3.9 by 1.4 inches, 10.2 ounces), but feels smaller than the $119.99 Marshall Willen (4.0 by 4.0 by 1.6 inches, 10.9 ounces), which is less river-rock shaped and more box-like. The Motion 300, meanwhile, is larger and heavier than both (2.2 by 7.9 by 3.9 inches, 1.7 pounds).
(Credit: Christian de Looper)A USB-C port and power button are on the bottom edge, while an adjustable nylon strap crosses the rear panel. You can use the strap to attach the speaker to bags, handlebars, or other objects. The original SoundLink Micro had a rubber strap that latched onto the side of the speaker. The Willen has a tight rubber strap across its back that doesn't adjust much and is more difficult to use thanks to its button-style catch.
The physical controls, all located in a groove on the front, include a Bluetooth pairing button, individual volume buttons, a play/pause button, and a Shortcut button. You can customize the Shortcut button, although it has only two options: to launch Speaker Link (for pairing multiple Bose speakers together) or to activate Spotify Tap (which plays your favorite playlist). Double-pressing the play/pause button skips to the next track, while triple-pressing it skips back to the previous track.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)The speaker's IP67 water-resistance rating means it’ll easily withstand being caught in the rain. It should even survive an accidental swim in the pool, though you wouldn’t want to submerge it intentionally. The Willen has the same IP67 rating, while the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 has an IPX7 rating, which means it is equally protected from water, but not certified against dust.
The SoundLink Micro is a mono speaker with a single driver. Bose doesn’t disclose the driver's dimensions nor its frequency response. The speaker connects using Bluetooth 5.4 and supports the AAC and SBC codecs, as well as the higher-resolution aptX Adaptive codec when connected to compatible Snapdragon devices. It also supports Google Fast Pair for quick pairing and Bluetooth multipoint. The Willen supports just the SBC codec, while the Motion 300 supports AAC, LDAC, and SBC.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)In additional to the speaker, Bose includes a USB-A to USB-C cable. I would've preferred a standard USB-C cable. No power brick is included.
Battery: Double the First-Gen Model
At up to 12 hours, the second-gen SoundLink Micro lasts twice as long as the first-generation version. The Willen lasts for 15 hours, while the Soundcore Motion 300 can manage up to 13 hours.
App Experience: Basic Bose
The speaker works with the Bose app for both Android and iOS devices. The app is relatively easy to navigate, allowing you to manage Bluetooth settings, customize the Shortcut button's functionality, view the battery level, and set up the EQ.
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Outdoor Speakers for 2026
(Credit: Bose/PCMag)But as I've mentioned in many reviews, the Bose app EQ is bare-bones. It only offers three adjustable bands, which are simply labeled bass, mid, and treble, with no indication of which frequencies each controls. In comparison, the Marshall companion app includes three EQ presets that you cannot customize, whereas the Motion 300's app has four EQ presets and a fully adjustable, nine-band EQ, giving you significantly more control over the sound.
Sound: Impressive for Its Size
Compact speakers, such as the SoundLink Micro, tend to sacrifice audio performance for portability. Nonetheless, the speaker sounds better than I expected, and significantly improves on the audio performance of the first-gen version.
The bass response isn’t super deep, but it is a little deeper and rounder than I anticipated. On a track like The Knife's “Silent Shout,” the speaker is not able to produce the deep sub-bass frequencies in the bass synth and kick drum, but it still creates a kick drum with some body. It couples the kick drum with a restrained high-end response that's still relatively crisp compared with some speakers this size.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Kendrick Lamar's “Loyalty” highlights the speaker's limitations more clearly. It's unable to produce most of the notes in the sub-bass line that’s featured on much of the track, though it does play the highest note in the line. This leaves the track feeling a little thin, though he speaker does a pretty good job with the percussion in the beat. Lamar and Rihanna’s vocals sound full-bodied.
Bill Callahan's “Drover” sounds better because it doesn’t rely on sub-bass frequencies. The speaker produces an impactful kick drum, and Callahan’s deep vocal sound is round and full. The acoustic guitar sounds excellent, and while the cymbals lack some high-end clarity, they still add some sparkle.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Orchestral tracks, such as the opening scene to John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound decent in terms of frequency response, with bright brass instruments and vocals that cut through the mix. However, the SoundLink's single speaker means that the instruments are layered on top of each other in a way that makes it difficult to separate what's happening.
The Anker Soundcore Motion 300 delivers richer audio, but it's also roughly twice the size of the Bose. For its (smaller) size, the SoundLink Micro sounds impressive. The Marshall Willen comes surprisingly close to the Bose in terms of audio quality, though it runs into the same size-versus-bass limitations.
Bose has dropped the microphone for the updated SoundLink Micro, which means there's no speakerphone functionality. The Motion 300 and Willen, meanwhile, can both be used for phone calls.