Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) vs Anker Soundcore Motion 300
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers: 4 Tested, 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 ~$150. 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 genuinely 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 for well under $100, 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
Side by side
| Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) | 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 |
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 Tested, 1 We'd Skip.