Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Big Bose sound in a pocket-sized package

I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth speakers, and I’m always impressed when it comes to Bose. I personally love the sound its speakers make, and the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is no exception to that fact.

It delivers a balanced sound that can be turned up without distortion, is compact and lightweight for easy portability, and is waterproof and dust-resistant for any outdoor activities. There are loads of color choices too, and the useful connectivity options mean you can pair multiple speakers for a bigger sound.

However, there are far cheaper options on the market that can save you half the price and give you comparable sound and better battery life. To find out more about what I think about the speaker, you can keep reading this full Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Specs

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Price & availability

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is available to purchase from Best Buy in the U.S. for $129, but can frequently be found on sale for as low as $79. In the U.K., you can purchase the speaker for £119 from Amazon. You can purchase the speaker in a variety of colors, including Sunset Peach, Sandstone, Black, Petal Pink, Blue Dusk, Dewdrop Mint and Twilight Blue.

Bose also offers the bigger SoundLink Flex, which is only $20 more at $149, offering the same durability specs in a slightly less portable package. The SoundLink Micro 2, by contrast, fits in the palm of your hand, making it better for travelling.

When it comes to small, portable speakers, you can certainly pick up cheaper options, but you won’t be getting the full-bodied sound you get with the Bose. The$39 Tozo PE1 is a decent option if you’re on a very tight budget, but the battery drains fast, and the sound becomes tinny at higher volumes.

Staying on the micro side, the $64 Tribit StomBox Micro 3 is around the same size as the SoundLink Micro, but has a higher IP68 durability rating. I love the sound you get from the Tribit, and I find myself reaching for it regularly. It’s half the price of the Bose and, in my opinion, performs just as well.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Design

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is a devilishly handsome speaker that comes in a variety of colors. The wide range of colors means you can choose one that complements your style, but I prefer the understated black variant.

Micro-sized speakers are very portable, and this one is about the size of my hand at 4.1 x 4.1 x 1.7 inches. It only weighs 11.2 ounces, so it didn’t add any noticeable weight to my bag when taking it out and about. The Tozo PE1 is lighter at just 8 ounces.

Bose says this speaker is built to bounce, so I obviously had to put it to the test. I dropped it from chest height (I’m 5’2”), and it quickly rebounded off the ground with no marks in sight, so it is very sturdy. This speaker has an IP67 durability rating, meaning it is fully protected against dust and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. Since I mostly use Bluetooth speakers when I’m out in the garden, it’s great to know that the SoundLink Micro 2 is protected. I took the speaker on vacation with me and had it poolside where it was subject to splashes from the pool, and it was completely unfazed.

Controls

The Bose SoundLink Micro uses button controls, which are very responsive. On the right, there is a shortcut button. This is programmable through the Bose app. I decided to set it so that it would play music from my Spotify account without me selecting it on my phone. This was useful as I could leave my phone inside, minimizing distractions.

Connectivity

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 uses Bluetooth version 5.4. The Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 uses Bluetooth 6.0, a more advanced version, but for everyday listening I don’t think it makes much of a difference. The Bose speaker supports multipoint connectivity for up to two devices, which allowed me to easily transition between two phones. This worked well for my family when we couldn’t decide who should be in charge of the music.

Bose’s Party Mode is supported by the speaker too, so you can connect two of their SoundLink speakers and sync up the audio for an even bigger sound. You can also enable stereo mode here and turn them into left and right speakers to immerse yourself in the sound.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Sound quality

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 was the perfect way to soundtrack my vacation as it gave me great volume with total balance over the bass, mids and treble. Though it may be small in stature, don’t let that fool you when it comes to the sound capabilities.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Let’s Go Crazy by Prince. This track has a lot going on in the high end, so when I listen just using my phone speakers, the driving bass line is often lost in a sea of synth effects. However, when listening with the SoundLink Micro 3, I was impressed by how clear the bass guitar was, and it allowed the song to perform to its full potential.

When evaluating the mid-range performance, I listened to Graceland Too by Phoebe Bridgers, which is an acoustic track filled with strings and a delicate vocal performance. The plucking of the string instruments was clear, but you could still hear the vocal harmonies clearly, showing strong tonal separation.

Finally, to test out the treble, I listened to It’s Amazing To Be Young by Fontaines D.C. for its leading drum riffs and lead guitar. The speaker replicated these tones with ease, and I didn't experience any tinniness. Again, I was impressed by the instrument separation across guitar and drums.

You certainly get the classic Bose sound here and I prefer the sound profile to the Tozo PE1, which sounds a lot cheaper, but I would say it’s on par with the Tribit StormBox Micro 3.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: App

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 speaker is compatible with the Bose app, which you can use to customize the sound or simply control it. It’s easy to navigate, and I felt like I had a lot of control. I prefer using this to the Tribit app for the StormBox Micro 3.

There are custom EQ adjusters to fine-tune the bass, mid-range and treble, or you can use the EQ presets in the app. I like the default EQ of this speaker, but increasing the bass makes it pretty ground-shaking.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a shortcut button on the speaker that can be altered on the speaker and used to launch Spotify Tap, or sync with other Bose speakers to activate Party Mode. The app is certainly a helping hand throughout the listening process, and it’s not at all complicated.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Battery life

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 comes with a USB-C to A cable for charging, which takes around three hours. The speaker holds 12 hours of battery life, which lasted me around three days before I needed to juice up again.

I would have liked a little more battery life for longer trips since rivals prove it can be done, even in such a small package. The Tribit StormBox Micro 3, for example, has 24 hours of battery life, and the Tribit PocketGo (which is even smaller) holds 20 hours of battery.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 impressed me by delivering clear and balanced sound with zero distortion, even at louder volumes. It’s very lightweight and compact, making it a great option for taking with you on trips, as I did. There are loads of color options to choose from, so it can certainly be a style-minded purchase, and the connectivity features unlock ways to get an even bigger sound. Meanwhile, the IP67 durability rating makes it a good option for anyone who likes to listen to music outdoors.

As much as I like the speaker, there are cheaper options on the market that also provide great sound and even have stronger battery life. But if you’re a fan of the classic Bose sound, this speaker is a no-brainer.