With the SoundLink Flex, Bose gives a very compact and highly effective Bluetooth speaker. In a approach, this speaker is just like the SoundLink Mini 2, which was probably the most well-liked audio system lately. So, can Bose construct on the earlier mannequin’s qualities and even combine a number of enhancements? We examined the Bluetooth speaker!
Good
- Excellent sound high quality
- Good and loud with 90 db max
- Lovely design with high-quality end
- Lengthy-lasting battery with as much as twelve hours
- Good name high quality
Unhealthy
- Very low performance total
- No jack connection
- No equalizer within the app
Bose SoundLink Flex: All offers
In a nutshell
The Soundlink Flex turned out to be a worthy (religious) successor to the Soundlink Mini 2 in our take a look at, that means that it’s notably spectacular by way of sound and battery life. The truth that a number of Bose audio system will be linked in occasion mode can be actually sensible.
Aside from this, function and computerized sound adjustment when mendacity down; nevertheless, the Soundlink Flex has too few capabilities total. But when your focus is on design, sound and battery, you possibly can confidently go for it!
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Design & processing
With dimensions of 9 cm x 20.1 cm x 5.2 cm and a weight of 0.6 kg, the Soundlink Flex from Bose is a extremely compact Bluetooth speaker. The producer has opted for a sturdy metal housing with a silicone coating. Whereas it’s actually sensible that the producer has put in a holding strap, the Soundlink Flex lacks connections. As a result of: There’s solely USB-C for charging!
Professionals:
- Easy, high-quality design.
- Superbly transportable, together with a holding strap.
- Water-protected in line with IP67.
Cons:
- No connections besides USB-C for charging.
The producer supplied us with the Soundlink Flex within the carmine purple colour variant for this take a look at report. This colour variant is out there completely by way of Amazon, alternatively you can too select between the colours stone blue, cypress inexperienced, white and black. Bose thus covers a variety of colours, and I’ve to say subjectively that I actually just like the darkish purple colour variant.
The workmanship of the Soundlink Flex additionally leaves little to be desired. Bose seals the Bluetooth speaker to IP67, the vast majority of the housing is manufactured from non-slip silicone and the speaker grilles on the back and front are powder-coated. This could make the speaker notably sturdy.
And though our take a look at pattern did not arrive as new and has due to this fact most likely already been by way of a number of editorial places of work, I could not discover any scratches or different defects. A small particular function: the Soundlink Flex floats—so you possibly can merely throw it into the pool and hearken to music within the water.
With a weight of 0.6 kg, the Soundlink Flex can be very transportable. You can even connect the speaker to backpacks or belt loops utilizing a carabiner or a hard and fast knot. That is very sensible for listening to music within the park or on a motorbike. By the way, the loop is manufactured from a finely woven cloth that additionally feels high-quality and sturdy.
The field is operated by way of a sequence of rubber buttons. These really feel just like the buttons on the Soundlink Mini 2—they’re extensive buttons with a barely spongy stress level. You should use the buttons to regulate the quantity, begin and cease music playback, and double-click to advance a music. Sadly, you do not have the choice of calling Siri, Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Nonetheless, there may be one main downside to the design of the Soundlink Flex: there may be solely a single USB-C slot on board. This implies you possibly can’t join any enter gadgets to the speaker by way of cable. The included charging cable can be USB-C to USB kind A—in 2024, I wish to see USB-C on either side.
App and comfort capabilities
To manage the Soundlink Flex, Bose gives a companion app which you can set up on iOS and Android. Nonetheless, the Bose Join app provides you fairly few setting choices—however it’s (as soon as once more) superbly designed!
Professionals:
- Fairly design.
- Enables you to change between linked gadgets.
- Exact battery data.
Cons:
- No equalizer.
- General few consolation capabilities.
If you wish to use the Soundlink Flex, we advocate downloading the companion app “Bose Join App”. You should use this to test the speaker’s battery stage and what number of gadgets the speaker has already been linked to. Switching between a number of gadgets can be potential regardless of the shortage of multi-pairing—i.e. the simultaneous connection of a number of gadgets.
Whereas I used to be impressed by the design within the take a look at, and it may be fairly sensible to combine music management into the app, there’s a slight lack of capabilities. Sure, you possibly can change the language of the Bose-typical “announcer”—however there is no such thing as a particular person project of the buttons or connection to voice assistants or music streaming services.
Even when Bluetooth audio system do not essentially have to have the ability to do that, it may be sensible to briefly instruct Alexa to activate a unique music on the contact of a button. Particularly as Bose has put in microphones within the speaker.
The Join app is due to this fact extra convincing in that it makes the Soundlink Flex consumer expertise just a little extra subtle. Nonetheless, you will not want to make use of the speaker continuously in on a regular basis life.
Sound high quality and expertise
Bose equips the Soundlink Flex with the “high-quality sound copy” function—jokes apart, sadly the producer doesn’t present any perception into the efficiency of the Bluetooth speaker. What Bose does reveal, nevertheless, is that the Bluetooth speaker acknowledges whether or not it’s standing upright or mendacity on its again. It’s imagined to routinely discover the optimum sound settings to sound good in any place. And … does it do this?
Professionals:
- Excessive quantity of as much as 90 dB.
- Properly balanced sound total.
- May be linked to different Bose audio system – even in stereo with similar audio system.
Cons:
- No native stereo sound.
- No equalizer settings.
Though Bose has not introduced it as a successor, I evaluate the Flex with the Soundlink Mini 2—as a result of the Bluetooth speaker launched in 2015 is among the hottest BT audio system in the marketplace.
For me, it is usually one of many fashions that convey a “the place is the loud music coming from” feeling. This sense of questioning the place all of the music is coming from when listening to music can be discovered with the Soundlink Flex.
The Soundlink Flex gives a pleasant loud sound that doesn’t are inclined to overdrive even when turned as much as full quantity. The music sounds properly balanced, particularly at common volumes. Regardless of its compact measurement, the bass is highly effective and the mids and highs sound good and clear.
The truth that Bose mixes each stereo channels collectively is just not notably noticeable in a unfavorable approach. The speaker manages to maintain an summary even with extra complicated songs.
Despite the fact that Bose gives preset, it’s a little unlucky that there are not any choices for adjusting the sound by way of the Join app. For instance, with the monitor “OKAY!” by OG Keemo, a really bass-heavy music, the speaker appears just a little overwhelmed.
With “King of the Rodeo” by Kings of Leon, however, it copes completely. When you have a various style in music, the Soundlink Flex would possibly due to this fact lack just a little flexibility—which is annoying as “Flex” is within the identify.
Once I flip the Soundlink Flex all the best way up, I measure a most of 90 db at a distance of about one meter. Which means Bose is already exceeding the restrict of harmfulness—the restrict that I’d not need my neighbors in my condo constructing to need to endure. With such a compact Bluetooth speaker, nothing is left to be desired. The Flex is certainly appropriate for events, particularly for those who join a number of fashions collectively.
The voice high quality of calls proved to be notably excellent within the take a look at. The opposite occasion on the take a look at name was shocked that I used to be talking by way of a Bluetooth speaker. Conversely, I additionally discovered the dialog to be splendidly clear, intelligible and low-noise.
The truth that the Soundlink Flex adjusts the sound when it’s mendacity on its again can truly be heard when attempting it out. The sound then appears just a little wider, which is sensible for those who place the speaker on the eating desk, for instance, and individuals are sitting round it. Sensible!
Battery and charging
In keeping with the producer, the Soundlink Flex lasts as much as twelve hours when listening to music. Charging is completely by way of USB-C and you want to permit a full 4 hours for a full cost. There is no such thing as a quick charging perform or the choice to make use of the Soundlink Flex as an influence financial institution.
Professionals:
- Twelve hours of battery life, which can be lifelike for on a regular basis use.
- USB-C as charging port.
Cons:
- No quick charging perform.
- No energy financial institution function.
With a most battery lifetime of twelve hours, the Soundlink Flex impresses by way of battery life. Nonetheless, this worth can solely be achieved in on a regular basis life for those who do not flip the Bluetooth speaker up all the best way. With combined utilization habits, the runtime drops to round 9 – 10 hours. That is nonetheless worth that you need to be capable to address in most utilization eventualities.
Since Bose depends on USB-C for the Soundlink Flex, you may have many charging choices—for instance, within the automotive on a highway journey or by way of an influence financial institution or energy station. Whereas different producers supply Bluetooth audio system with wi-fi charging stations, Bose depends strictly on wired charging.
What I miss extra with the Bose Soundlink Flex, nevertheless, is the choice to cost different gadgets by way of the speaker. An influence financial institution function is now out there on many Bluetooth audio system.
Remaining verdict
The SoundLink Flex from Bose scored high marks on-line, and the Bluetooth speaker additionally impressed on this take a look at, notably after we centered on its operation, sound high quality, and battery life. Because the religious successor to the SoundLink Mini 2, the SoundLink Flex gives a fair finer sound profile. The design can be actually trendy, and the inclusion of USB-C connectivity ought to please most customers in 2024.
Whereas Bose concentrates on an important options of a Bluetooth speaker, the competitors has misplaced out by way of performance. The truth that there is no such thing as a jack connection might look minimalist by way of design—however for those who use your BT speaker to look at movies or play video games, you will not be capable to decrease latency.
Though the Bose app is trendy and gives sensible options with the pairing capabilities, it lacks a built-in equalizer and streaming capabilities. There’s additionally no possibility to regulate a voice assistant. And eventually, in lots of conditions you would need for an influence financial institution perform, because the built-in battery can be giant sufficient to cost different gadgets.
The Soundlink Flex is due to this fact extra appropriate for potential clients with a watch for design and excessive calls for by way of sound high quality. It is among the prettiest and best-sounding compact Bluetooth audio system in the marketplace. Because of the lack of options, nevertheless, the score drops to 4 stars.
