Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) vs Anker Soundcore Motion 300
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers: 4 Compared, 1 We'd Skip comparison.
The SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) wins for the widest set of buyers: the most natural sound for its size, rugged enough to toss in a bag, at a fair mid-range price. If money's tight, the Soundcore Motion 300 delivers most of that experience for roughly half the price. Reach for the Everboom only if you specifically need loud outdoor 360-degree sound, and skip the SoundLink Micro unless tiny-and-Bose outranks how it sounds.
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
Buy itThe best sound-per-ounce of the group, and rugged enough that you won't baby it.
- Balanced, natural, detailed sound that punches well above its 1.3 lb size
- PositionIQ auto-tunes to how it's placed; IP67 rugged with multipoint Bluetooth 5.3
- Only about 12 hours of battery
- Barely changed from the 1st gen, so grab that on sale if it's noticeably cheaper
Anker Soundcore Motion 300
Buy itShockingly good sound at a budget price, hi-res audio included.
- Loud, full sound with LDAC hi-res support that's rare at this price
- IPX7 waterproof, ~13 hr battery, and orientation-aware SmartTune
- Bass isn't as tight or refined as pricier rivals
- Plasticky feel and a slightly fiddly companion app
- Listed as sold out on Soundcore's own US store at the time of this check, so stock is retailer-dependent
Side by side
The 5 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) Our pick | Anker Soundcore Motion 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most people who want the best everyday grab-and-go speaker and care more about sound quality than sheer volume. | Budget buyers who want the most sound per dollar and don't need a premium build or the biggest brand name. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Sound for its size | Excellent | Very good |
| Battery (rated) | ~12 hrs | ~13 hrs |
| Durability | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Portability | Compact | Compact |
| Verdict | Buy | Buy |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) if
most people who want the best everyday grab-and-go speaker and care more about sound quality than sheer volume.
Know before buying: only about 12 hours of battery.
Pick the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 if
budget buyers who want the most sound per dollar and don't need a premium build or the biggest brand name.
Know before buying: bass isn't as tight or refined as pricier rivals.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) - The best sound-per-ounce of the group, and rugged enough that you won't baby it. Choose the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 instead if budget buyers who want the most sound per dollar and don't need a premium build or the biggest brand name.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers: 4 Compared, 1 We'd Skip.