Bose New Soundlink Micro (2nd Generation) Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Wireless Outdoor Speaker, Up To 12 Hours Battery Life, Water And Dust Resistant, Black

Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Generation) Black

The Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Speaker (2nd Generation) in black is Bose’s smallest Bluetooth speaker, rebuilt for its second generation with the upgrades owners of the original actually asked for: battery life doubled to up to 12 hours, charging moved to USB-C, Bluetooth updated to version 5.4, and sound and controls now configurable through the Bose app, including adjustable EQ. It keeps the qualities that made the original a favourite – a pocketable 10.4 cm square body, an IP67 waterproof and dustproof build, and sound that is strikingly full for something that plays from the palm of your hand. This is the speaker for showers, cycle rides, beach bags, site work and travel, where a larger speaker would simply be left behind.

Bose has also redesigned the strap for this generation. The improved utility strap attaches the speaker to handlebars, bag straps, hooks and rails, and the rugged mix of silicone, PC-ABS plastic, fabric and steel shrugs off drops, rust and shock. Two SoundLink Micro speakers can be linked for stereo separation or Party Mode, and SimpleSync connects the speaker with compatible Bose smart products at home.

Key features

• Up to 12 hours of battery life, double the first-generation model, with USB-C charging
• IP67 rated: waterproof in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes and fully dustproof
• Bluetooth 5.4 with up to 9 metre (30 ft) range and multipoint-style dual-device use
• Adjustable EQ and controls through the Bose app
• Compact 10.4 x 10.4 x 4.3 cm body weighing about 0.33 kg
• Improved utility strap for attaching to bags, handlebars and hooks
• Stereo Mode and Party Mode pairing, plus Bose SimpleSync compatibility

Sound from a speaker this small

The SoundLink Micro’s reputation rests on producing clear, loud and genuinely full-range sound from a cabinet small enough to be an afterthought in a bag. Bose tunes it for crisp vocals and surprising bass weight at everyday listening levels, which suits podcasts, acoustic music and pop as much as background playlists. The Bose app’s adjustable EQ is new for this generation and genuinely useful: bass, midrange and treble can be trimmed to taste, so you can add warmth for indoor listening or extra clarity outdoors where bass dissipates. Playback is mono from a single unit, which is the honest trade-off at this size; pairing a second SoundLink Micro unlocks true stereo, and Party Mode plays the same music from both speakers for a larger space. Position matters with any small speaker, and placing the Micro on a solid surface near a wall gives a fuller result than hanging it in open air.

Built for water, dust and being dropped

The IP67 rating means the speaker is sealed against dust and can be submerged in up to a metre of fresh water for 30 minutes, so rain, poolside splashes, a fall into the bath or a dusty workshop are non-events; rinse it clean and carry on. The soft-touch silicone exterior resists scratches and absorbs knocks, and Bose rates the design as shock and rust resistant for outdoor life. Note that, per Bose’s own specification for this generation, the speaker has no built-in microphone, so hands-free calling is handled by your phone rather than through the speaker – a deliberate simplification in this generation that is worth knowing before you buy. A full charge takes about 3 hours over USB-C, and the speaker can keep playing while it charges, so a power bank keeps a long day outdoors running.

Controls, app and everyday use

On-speaker buttons cover power, Bluetooth pairing, volume and multi-function playback control, and a customisable shortcut button can be set through the Bose app for quick access to a favourite function. The app also handles firmware updates, EQ, pairing management and linking a second speaker. Bluetooth 5.4 gives a stable connection to about 9 metres and supports connection to two devices for easy switching between, for example, a phone and a tablet. At roughly 330 grams with a strap that genuinely stays attached, the SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) in black is the rare portable speaker that is small enough to be carried by default and tough enough not to be worried about – and with 12 hours of playback, it now lasts as long as the day you carry it through.