Summary
It’s been eight years since Bose launched the cute and portable SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker. Finally, the 2nd generation is here. This is a compact powerhouse built for the outdoors, promising improved audio performance in a ready-to-go design.
The new Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) brings some welcome improvements that make a great speaker even better. You’re getting USB-C charging, Bose app compatibility for audio fine tuning, and “lifelike sound reproduction” thanks to Active EQ, which is described as “an automatic audio tuning system that adjusts the speaker’s frequency response to match Bose’s optimal sound curve.”
One nifty feature is speaker pairing. If you’ve got another SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen), you can pair them up for stereo playback just by pressing a button on the speakers. This also works with other current SoundLink speakers like theFlex (2nd Gen), the Plus, or theMax, but apparently not the original generation.
Bose packed a lot of punch into this small package. There’s a single driver working alongside dual passive radiators, which should improve performance at higher frequencies without sacrificing bass. And since this speaker is meant to go everywhere with you, it boasts an IP67 rating, meaning it can handle being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes. The powder-coated steel grille and soft-touch silicone exterior also help its durability. The nylon strap is removable and interchangeable.
Connectivity-wise, you’re looking at Bluetooth Core 5.4 and multipoint connectivity up to 30 feet. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of playback time on a single charge, and it’ll fully charge in about 4 hours. If you’re wondering about sound quality, it supports Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and aptX Adaptive (Snapdragon Sound), along with Low Complexity Sub-Band Coding (SBC).
Bose did not give a specific launch date other than “later this summer.” However, we know it will cost $129 and be available in black and “Blue Dusk” color. The original SoundLink Micro is still one of the best portable speakers on the market, so we expect good things from the 2nd Gen model.
