Bose SoundLink Flex 2 (Sandstone)

Bose SoundLink Flex 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The Bose SoundLink Flex 2 in Sandstone is the second generation of Bose’s take-anywhere Bluetooth speaker: a compact, silicone-wrapped design that survives water, dust and drops, sounds considerably bigger than it looks, and now adds the connectivity modern phones expect. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint keeps two devices connected at once, Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive delivers higher-quality streaming from compatible Android phones, PositionIQ senses how the speaker is placed and adjusts the sound to match, and the battery runs for up to 12 hours between USB-C charges.

Key features

• Portable Bluetooth speaker, 2nd generation, Sandstone finish
• IP67 waterproof and dustproof
• Up to 12 hours of battery life per charge
• PositionIQ automatic sound optimisation for any placement
• Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connection
• Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive on compatible devices
• USB-C charging
• Stereo pairing with a second compatible Bose speaker
• Durable silicone and nylon build with utility loop
• Bose app with adjustable EQ and customisable shortcut button

Sound that adjusts to how you set it down

Small speakers usually assume one correct position. The SoundLink Flex 2 makes no such assumption: PositionIQ technology detects whether the speaker is standing upright, lying on its back or hanging from its utility loop, and optimises the output for that orientation automatically. Set it down however the moment suits and the balance stays right. The acoustic design delivers the full, punchy low end Bose builds its portable reputation on, with enough clarity in the midrange for podcasts and calls as well as music, and a built-in microphone turns the speaker into a hands-free speakerphone when a call interrupts the playlist.

Built for water, dust and being carried

The IP67 rating means the SoundLink Flex 2 is sealed against dust and can be immersed in fresh water, so rain at a picnic, spray at the pool or sand at the beach are inconveniences rather than emergencies. The body is wrapped in durable silicone over a robust frame, with a nylon utility loop for clipping the speaker to a bag, a hook or a branch. At roughly 590 grams it is light enough to live in a backpack permanently, in this warm Sandstone finish that hides travel scuffs gracefully.

Second-generation connections

The updates that define this generation are about the link, not just the sound. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 holds a phone and a laptop, or two phones, connected simultaneously, so a call or a friend’s song choice does not require a pairing ritual. On compatible Snapdragon Sound devices, aptX Adaptive streaming raises audio quality and keeps latency low for video. A shortcut button on the top panel can be assigned in the Bose app to a voice assistant or a one-tap music service, and the app also provides a three-band equaliser and battery information. Pair a second compatible Bose speaker for true stereo separation, or run two together in party mode for larger spaces.

Battery for the whole day out

Up to 12 hours of playback covers a full day at the beach, a long hike with music or a working day of background listening, and recharging is by USB-C, the same connector as most current phones and laptops, so one cable in the bag serves everything.

Choose the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 in Sandstone if you want a genuinely rugged portable speaker with day-long battery, placement-proof sound and the multipoint and aptX Adaptive connections that the first generation lacked.