The Bose SoundLink Flex is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2021, promising a resilient, portable design for use on the go. It boasts an IP67-rated water-proof and dust-proof design. You can find similar products on our list of the best-ranked speakers today. This unit produces neutral, balanced sounds and supports dual-device Bluetooth pairing. Examine the details of the Bose SoundLink Flex below and see how it compares to the best Bluetooth speakers in the industry today.
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Bose Soundlink Flex Review
By
True Score
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84
Absolutely Fresh
82
12
Experts
94
38.5k
Consumers
Expert Rankings
(
12
)
Experts were amazed by the quality of the Bose SoundLink Flex, and they recommended it for music, podcasts, and outdoor use. They praised its low directivity index, dual-device Bluetooth 4.2 pairing, and portable design. However, they were disappointed that it lacks a graphic EQ and doesn’t support stereo.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The Bose SoundLink Flex is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2021, promising a resilient, portable design for use on the go. It boasts an IP67-rated water-proof and dust-proof design. You can find similar products on our list of the best-ranked speakers today. This unit produces neutral, balanced sounds and supports dual-device Bluetooth pairing. Examine the details of the Bose SoundLink Flex below and see how it compares to the best Bluetooth speakers in the industry today.
Consensus
our Verdict
Reviewers praised the Bose SoundLink Flex, recommending it for outdoor use, podcasts and music. Editors at Tech Hive loved its speakerphone functions and IP67-rated water-proof and dust-proof design. Analysts at PCMag hailed its portable 1.3-lb construction. Experiments revealed a 60.8Hz to 15.6 kHz frequency response range and near-neutral 0.22 slope, producing balanced sounds. This device has a good 87.5 dB maximum SPL and 3.02 dB DRC, showing some sound quality deterioration at the highest volume. Check out our Bose S1 Pro System review for a louder Bluetooth device. It has a 4.59 dB in directivity index, offering an average soundstage performance. The device has a tested 7.2 hr-battery life and excellent smartphone-based voice assistant functions. This product supports dual-device Bluetooth pairing, boasting a decent 109 ms Android Bluetooth latency and 236 ms iOS Bluetooth latency. However, it downmixes stereo to mono and lacks a graphic EQ. Check out the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore review for a graphic EQ.
Reason to Buy
- Neutral sound profile
- Pairs with two devices via Bluetooth 4.2
- Good Android Bluetooth latency is good for movies
- Excellent smartphone-based voice assistant performance
- Waterproof and dustproof design
Reason to Avoid
- So-so soundstage performance
- Doesn’t have graphic EQ
- No support for stereo
Bose Soundlink Flex Specs
 | Battery Life | 12 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 4 hrs |
 | Depth | 2.06" |
 | Height | 3.56" |
 | IPX Rating | IP67 |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 7W |
 | Width | 7.93" |
 | Wireless Range | 30 ft |
All Specs
Test Results
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| Battery Life (Hours) | 9.5967 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 81.4 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 64.42 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 10,093.191 |
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Product Comparison
 Bose Soundlink Flex Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 84 | 84 | 82 | 83 |
Ranking | # 17 / 260 | # 18 / 260 | # 44 / 260 | # 31 / 260 |
Market Context |
The Bose SoundLink Flex is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2021, promising a resilient, portable design for use on the go. It boasts… |
The Bose SoundLink Flex has an 87.5 dB maximum SPL, getting louder than the Bose SoundLink Micro, which has a top 78.6 dB SPL. Featuring… The Bose SoundLink Flex has an 87.5 dB maximum SPL, getting louder than the Bose SoundLink Micro, which has a top 78.6 dB SPL. Featuring a 0.22 frequency response slope, the SoundLink Flex offers more balanced sounds than the SoundLink Micro, which has a -0.63 slope. However, the 0.7-lb Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker is more portable than the 1.3-lb SoundLink Flex. Browse our Bose SoundLink Micro review to analyze the Micro. |
Unlike the Wi-Fi-enabled Sonos Roam, the Bose SoundLink Flex portable speaker connects via Bluetooth. The Sonos has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, providing better voice… Unlike the Wi-Fi-enabled Sonos Roam, the Bose SoundLink Flex portable speaker connects via Bluetooth. The Sonos has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, providing better voice assistant performance than the SoundLink Flex, which relies on a smartphone. The Flex has a better 7.2-hour battery life than the 5.1-hour battery life of the Roam. |
Featuring a 0.22 frequency response slope, the Bose SoundLink Flex produces slightly better-balanced sounds than the JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth portable speaker with its -0.31… Featuring a 0.22 frequency response slope, the Bose SoundLink Flex produces slightly better-balanced sounds than the JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth portable speaker with its -0.31 slope. It also supports voice assistants via a smartphone, unlike the Flip 5. However, the Flip 5 has a better 3.29 dB directivity index, providing a wider soundstage than the 4.59 dB directivity index of the SoundLink Flex. |
Battery Life | 12 hrs | 6 hrs | 10 hrs | 12 hrs |
Built In Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Charge Time | 4 hrs | 4 hrs | 2 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
Depth | 2.06" | – | 2.44" | 2.71" |
Height | 3.56" | – | 6.6" | 2.9" |
IPX Rating | IP67 | – | – | IPX7 |
Smart App | Yes | Bose Connect | Amazon Alexa app, Google Assistant, Sonos app | JBL Portable |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
82
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
94
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
84
Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh
Expert Score Breakdown
Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight.
102.6Category Trust Score
65There are more rugged and better-sounding options, but the Bose SoundLink Flex is an easy… read moreBy:
Jon Jacobi
98.76Category Trust Score
63The Bose SoundLink Flex is one of the best quality portable rugged Bluetooth speakers we’ve… read moreBy:
Stephen Fenech
54.9Category Trust Score
80Its own (admittedly quite minor) shortcomings and the strength of the Bluetooth speaker competition make… read moreBy:
What Hi-Fi?
55.87Category Trust Score
NRThe Bose SoundLink Flex makes for a good hiking or shower companion and delivers playback… read moreBy:
Zak Khan- 42.51
Category Trust Score
86For the most part, the Soundlink Flex keeps its promises. The speaker does indeed deliver… read moreBy:
Simon Lucas - 48.27
Category Trust Score
80The Bose SoundLink Flex delivers clear and rich audio, in a suitably tough body with… read moreBy:
Simon Lucas
Customer Score Breakdown
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