Review: Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen)

There are a hundred decent Bluetooth speakers out there, but the new Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) might be the ultimate portable option. The Micro 2 keeps its full audio in a compact size, but adds more battery life, a better attachment strap, and overall better connectivity.

Over the last decade, I've tested more than 100 speakers of all kinds. And although I love stationary options like the Sonos Era 300 for home listening, I have a fondness for a really good portable speaker with plenty of battery life. The Micro 2 is perfect for all kinds of activities without taking up too much space in your bag.

New modern features keep this speaker relevant

The previous Bose Micro speaker was getting long in the tooth. It still had Bluetooth 4.3 wireless connectivity and a microUSB charging port. The latest revision to the speaker brings a newer Bluetooth spec, so the wireless connection should be more robust on newer devices. The new USB-C charging port means you can share one cable for your phone and this speaker.

The Micro 2 speaker doubles the battery life from six hours to 12—a huge quality of life upgrade. The buttons have been moved around to be more cohesive across all of the portable Bose speakers. The strap on the back has also been reworked to be a little more versatile, but I’m not sure how much difference that makes in practice.

Interestingly, the microphone has been removed. That might annoy some people, but my guess is that no one really used it anyway. The weight and dimensions increased slightly, but probably not enough to justify any outrage. In exchange, you now get access to the Bose mobile app to change EQ and other settings.

The audio quality is worth bringing the speaker on trips

No matter how portable a speaker is, if it doesn’t sound good, then there’s no point in lugging it around on vacation. The good news is that the Micro 2 speaker sounds good. Disclosure & Anderson .Paak’s “No Cap” bumps and sparkles on the speaker, for example. On the flip side of the musical spectrum, Noah Kahan’s acoustic songs are clear and present throughout the midrange. If you adjust the EQ for specific genres, you can eke out even better performance. I've come to prefer the default settings and have been happy with the sound in that mode.

You can quibble about what constitutes as good audio, but in the context of a speaker that can fit in a jacket pocket, the bar is simply lower. Of course, this speaker doesn’t sound as good as the bigger ones. That’s why Bose makes the SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max, too. The Bose SoundLink Flex is the closest to the Micro 2 in terms of size. That speaker does get louder, but it's heavier and doesn't have a back strap. So the decision will come down to where you plan to use the speaker.

In terms of volume, the Micro 2 is loud enough to strap to a bike handle and use while riding. It’s also loud enough to use next to a hot tub. I wouldn’t buy it to energize a pool party, as it’s a little small for that use. But it’s certainly suitable for more intimate situations with one to four people around.

Is the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 worth spending money on?

The Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) isn’t the cheapest Bluetooth speaker at $129, but its compact size and full sound are a hard combo to beat. This is one of the few speakers that can be used in the shower, packed for vacation, used on a bike, or just turned on in the kitchen for casual listening while cooking. It’s fantastic.