Bose SoundLink Flex Is The Perfect Travel Speaker To Take Anywhere

Bose is one of those consumer brands that can divide a room full of nerds. Plenty of people swear by the audio brand and love its products. Some others say Bose products are pricey and the company doesn’t always show technical specifications. I tend to fall into the first camp because I’ve tested quite a few Bose products and I’ve always found them high quality even though they tend to be a bit more expensive than some other brands.

Following on from my recent review of the Bose SoundLink Max, this week I am looking at the Bose SoundLink Flex, a smaller Bluetooth speaker that was recently launched in its second iteration. The Second Generation SoundLink Flex is the same price as its predecessor but now incorporates some important changes that make it an even more compelling proposition.

The new Bose SoundLink Flex is now able to take advantage of the excellent Bose smartphone app which offers access to various customization options and other features. For example, there’s a graphic equalizer for tweaking the speaker’s tone or SimpleSync, an easy way for linking the Soundlink Flex with another compatible Bose product for a multi-speaker stereo setup that’s ideal for parties.

Another new feature is the Shortcut button which can be programmed using the Bose app as a SimpleSync button, for accessing a voice assistant or to trigger Spotify Connect. Along with the support for the Bose app, the new version of the speaker now supports AAC and aptX Bluetooth audio codecs and will even work with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Technology when used with a compatible Android device.

The Bose SoundLink Flex is about the size of a small clutch bag and sports a crisp and nuanced sound with a surprisingly big bass. It’s the perfect travel speaker that’s small enough to pack into your luggage but with a big enough sound to fill a hotel room.

The speaker can play standing up, on its back or even hanging upside down because PositionIQ Technology senses the speaker’s orientation and optimizes the audio to ensure there’s plenty of sound projected. There’s also a textile loop on the end of the speaker that can be fitted with a carabineer for hanging the speaker on a tent spar or something similar. I’d love to have seen a color-coordinated carabineer in the box.

There is a strip of waterproof controls running along the top of the SoundLink Flex. The Buttons include a power switch, Bluetooth pairing, Shortcut button, plus a rtrio of transport controls and volume adjusters. One thing I like about the power button is it only needs a short press to turn on or off, unlike some Bluetooth speakers.

With an IP67 rating, the Bose SoundLink Flex is both waterproof and dust-resistant, ensuring it can be used anywhere. It will even float if it drops in the bath or is thrown in a swimming pool. And thanks to the silicone-wrapped body, the speaker is also resistant to scuffs and scratches so should stay looking good for years.

A full charge of the Bose SoundLink Flex’s rechargeable battery can provide up to 12 hours of playtime, plus it can double as a full-duplex speakerphone because there is a microphone built-in. So, if you do need to take an important business call while chilling at the pool, that won’t be a problem.

Verdict: As we’ve come to expect with Bose, there are few technical specifications listed for the Bose SoundLink Flex, so you’ll have to use your ears to judge the sound. What we do know is the speaker uses Bluetooth 5.3 and supports SBC, AAC, apt X and Snapdragon Sound. That’s about it. I can’t quote you the power output in Watts and neither can I tell you how big the drivers are. All I can say is this is a gorgeous speaker with high-quality construction, great sound, good looks and a speakerphone function. What more do you want? Highly Recommended.

Pricing & Availability: The Bose SoundLink Flex is available in Black, Blue Dusk, Sandstone and a very fetching Alpine Sage, which is a minty green shade. The price is $149 / £149.95 / €179.95.