Bose Soundlink Flex Review & Comparison

Bose Soundlink Flex is the latest Bose wireless Bluetooth speaker launched recently. The Bose Soundlink Flex is made to be a good companion that gives clear bass and delivers clear sound.

The Bose Soundlink Flex is selling at RM799 and comes in 4 different colours: Stone Blue, White Smoke, Black and the limited-edition Carmine Red. The design of the Soundlink Flex is stylish and in the silicone material. This Soundlink Flex is designed and intended for outdoor use. You can tell the speaker is well-designed by its appearance and material because it does not have any odd shapes or protruding parts that will make hiking more difficult.

Features

WATERPROOF AND DUSTPROOF (IP67)

The Soundlink Flex is designed to withstand summer. The SoundLink Flex has been rigorously tested to achieve an IP67 classification, making it waterproof and dustproof on the inside and out. Immerse it in water and it will continue to play. It floats too. The speaker is also dust-resistant, so sand will not be a problem if it you are bringing it to the beach.

RUGGED DESIGN

The Bose Soundlink Flex is also designed to withstand some bruising. With its powder-coated steel grille and silicone body, the SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker was designed specifically for outdoor use. Its durable exterior can endure practically any catastrophe, and its powder finish is resistant to rust, corrosion, and ultraviolet light.

POSITIONIQ™ TECHNOLOGY

The Bose Soundlink Flex brings outstanding sound in any position. SoundLink Flex’s PositionIQ Technology automatically optimises sound based on its orientation. Whether it is standing upright, resting on its back, or hanging from its tear-resistant utility loop, your music will always sound balanced and complete.

SoundLink Flex has a built-in sensor that can tell how it is being held and automatically adjusts its EQ to give you high-quality sound whether it’s standing up, laying flat, or lying down. This technology is only in the SoundLink Flex, which is the only Bose product that has it.

UP TO 12 HOURS ON A SINGLE CHARGE

The Soundlink Flex can maintain contact with you all day. SoundLink Flex will give your daily soundtrack whether you are working a long shift or spending a day on the water. It can operate for up to 12 hours on a single charge, and when it is time to recharge, you can do so using its USB-C port.

Pair up with other Bose Speakers

In Party Mode, the SoundLink Flex may be paired with a second Bose Bluetooth speaker, allowing you to fill a larger room or space with music.

The Soundlink Flex Bluetooth Speaker also work with the Bose Connect app. With the Bose Connect app, you can customise your settings, pair your speakers, unlock product features, keep your software up to date, and more.

When you connect your phone to the SoundLink Flex via Bluetooth, the built-in microphone lets you take calls, and the speaker’s great sound means you won’t miss a word. You can use Bluetooth to connect SoundLink Flex to your phone, tablet, or laptop from up to 9 metres away. It can remember up to eight devices that were just connected.

Bose Soundlink Flex vs JBL Charge 5

The Bose Soundlink Flex was compared to JBL Charge 5 by many other reviewers. The JBL Charge 5 has an IP67 rating for being fully waterproof. The Charge 5 is a little bit bigger and makes a bit more noise. Its bass is bigger, but some might say that it is also boomier and more forward, which can make the mids, where the vocals are, sound a little less clear. Overall, the Bose Soundlink Flex has a better balance of tones, and the bass is clearer. Majority like how it sounded in general. The apps for both speakers do not have EQ settings, so you must go with the sound that each speaker is known for. Some people are okay without the EQ settings, but a lot of people like to play around with EQ settings too.

The Bose Soundlink Flex is the speaker you should think about if you want something small enough to fit in a purse or small backpack and that can make much clearer and louder sound than the speakers built into your phone or laptop.

Below are the comparisons of Soundlink Micro vs Soundlink Flex vs Soundlink Revolve II:

Name	Bose Soundlink Micro	Bose Soundlink Flex	Bose Soundlink Revolve II
Our take in a nutshell	• Tiny—coat-pocket-sized really—and yet excels with even delivery and good separation, better than any other option we’ve heard at this size • IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof ratings make this suitable for the wild outdoors; quite durable	• About twice as large and heavy but still quite portable; goes much louder and sounds better at top volumes, particularly in delivering at the low end • IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof ratings make this suitable for the wild outdoors; quite durable	• A bit larger still, like a tall beverage can and a bit wider, delivers even, lush, room-filling 360-degree sound • Lower dust- and water-resistance ratings make this a more of an indoor option
Notes	• Rubber back strap for attachment to handlebars and backpacks • Built-in microphone • Color: black	• Fabric utility loop allows hanging, but you’ll need a carabiner • Built-in microphone • Colors: black, white smoke, stone blue	• Built-in microphone • Colors: triple black or luxe silver
Interface	• Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Multi-function button	• Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Multi-function button	• Bluetooth pairing • Volume up/down • Power on/off • Input selection • Multi-function button
Connectivity	• Bluetooth 4.2 • Micro-B USB for charging	• Bluetooth 4.2 • USB-C for charging	• Bluetooth 4.1 • Micro-B USB for charging and playback • 3.5 mm auxiliary (headphone mini) input
Battery life (advertised)	6 hours playtime and 4 hours charging time	12 hours playtime and 4 hours charging time	13 hours
Speakerphone	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pair multiple units	Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app	Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app	Pair multiple speakers using Bose Connect app
Waterproof?	Fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67)	Fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67)	Water and dust resistant (IP55)

All three speakers are excellent and have their own unique features. If you are interested in getting a portable Bluetooth speaker you might want to consider some of the features below:

Portability: All three speakers are portable speakers; however, you might want to consider how willingly are you going to carry the speakers. The sizes of the three speakers are different. The Soundlink Micro is as big as the size of a palm with a strap at the back of the speaker., the Soundlink Flex comes with a utility loop at the side where you can hang it while the Soundlink Revolve II comes is a cylindrical shape as tall as a can of soda.
Use near water: Soundlink Micro and Soundlink Flex both are IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof while the Soundlink Revolve II is IP55-rated dust and water-resistant. It means that the Revolve II can survive splashes but you would not want to submerge it into the water. The only speaker that floats will be the Soundlink Flex.
All three speakers have a rubberized coating that makes them able to handle drops and shocks.
All three speakers have built-in microphones that let you use them as speakerphones and still sound fine to the person on the other end of the call. This feature isn’t very common in today’s Bluetooth speakers, which may be because people don’t use it very often.
The charging cables that come with the Micro and Revolve II are micro-USB, while the ones that come with the Flex are USB-C. At this point, most people have a mix of devices that use both types of cables which is not a big deal for most of us.

The Bose Soundlink Flex can be purchased online on our website here: ifuture.com.my or from our Bose Malaysia outlets located at 1 Utama, Queensbay Mall, Bangsar Shopping Centre.