Bose SoundLink Micro Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

Ranked #5 in Bluetooth Speakers

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4.2/5

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Pros

• Plays loud for its size
• Decent bass
• Easily attach to backpacks etc.
• Speakerphone

Cons

• Bulky design
• Weak strap
• Battery only lasts 6 hours

When you go to the beach, you’re usually forced to listen to the music other people like. Incidentally, you might not be a fan. A portable, Bluetooth speaker can come in handy. In order for it to be efficient, though, it’s recommended that it is waterproof. One such product that you can use at the beach without any risk to its functionality is the Bose SoundLink Micro. You can use a common one, too, but you’ll have to keep an eye on it permanently to make sure no water is splashed on it.

That wouldn’t be much of a leisure time spent well, correct?

Introducing the Bose SoundLink Micro

The SoundLink micro is waterproof thanks to the material the outer shell is made of: a combination of rubber and silicone. The speaker is 3.87”, therefore powerful enough for you to blast your favorite songs, no matter if you’re cycling, tanning, jogging or hanging out with your friends.

It can stay connected to wireless from up to 9 meters. The battery can easily last 6 hours with only one charge of the Lithium-ion battery. It’s not too bad, considering it costs somewhere in the range of $100.

Some key-features you’ll find satisfactory

• You can drop the speaker in a lake and it would still work perfectly
• It weighs 0.64 pounds
• It comes with a strap that allows you to fasten it on your shoulder or your bike
• You can use it with the Bose Connect App (it’s free)
• You can use it with Google Assistant

Quality and Design

The single flaw of the SoundLink is, unfortunately, its design. It looks like it was made of plastic, and this will certainly make some customers steer the other way. Don’t get us wrong – it is not made of plastic.

Considering that it has the huge perk of being fully waterproof, we can live with this minor drawback. In terms of quality of the sound, you should keep in mind that this is not a stereo speaker, so you won’t get that good of a playback.

With the Bose Connect app, though, you can pair two or more Soundlink speakers in order to get a stereo sound. For a speaker its size, it does offer a relatively clean sound. Most speakers will distort the music when you turn the volume up. This won’t do that.

One other thing that will please customers is the bass, which is quite powerful. The rugged surface makes this particular speaker ideal for outdoors. You can take it anywhere, on any kind of weather, and it won’t malfunction.

Needless to say, this is its main selling point. Although the outer design could have been a little better, the features easily outweigh the cons. For instance, it can be submerged in water for half an hour and it will still work as if it were brand new.

Subsequently, it can rain, it can snow – your speaker will do its job nonetheless.

Great Audio Quality

Before we purchased this item, we were a tad skeptical. Taking the size into consideration, we thought “This can’t be as great” as people say. Luckily, it was one of those instances when we were proved wrong.

The audio quality of the SoundLink is outstanding for a speaker this size. It’s well-balanced, even though it’s a mono speaker, and stays faithful to the sound regardless of the kind of music you listen to.

Pairing two of these will result in an amazing sound, so if your friends were freaking out over your new purchase, they should definitely make it themselves. The 3.87” speaker might appear small, but it’s actually a beast.

Is It Easy to Set Up?

Because it only requires being paired with one of your Bluetooth devices, yes, it is extremely easy to set up. If you’re going to use the speaker with the Bose Connect application, you should know that the updates that are prompted by this app can take a while.

The initial one, for example, can take well over an hour. That’s not the end of the world, though, and it’s certainly more recommended to make sure it’s up-to-date than to keep it the way it is when unpacked.

Once this was paired with your smartphone or tablet, you can use the Google Assistant or Siri with a push of a button without any further setups.

Price vs. Quality Ratio

As far as we’re concerned, the price of this speaker is fairly realistic, considering that it’s waterproof. The sound is great, but it could have played the mid-range sound a little better.

We daresay it’s a good purchase and the price is justified by the fact that you can use it anywhere you want, regardless of how bad the weather is. And again, for a speaker its size, it isn’t bad at all.

Pros & Cons

The following pros and cons are what we found for the device.

Pros

• It can get pretty loud
• The bass is outstanding
• The sound is clear and there are no “pops”
• It can be attached to a backpack
• It can be connected to Bluetooth, used with Siri
• You can take calls on it

Cons

• It looks cheaply made
• Some people might find it somewhat bulgy
• The strap could be a little more durable

The Bottom Line – Is It Worth It?

If you’re hiking, cycling or camping on a regular basis and you can’t seem to find a speaker suitable for those activities, the Bose SoundLink Micro is the best buy you can make nowadays.

Drop it in the ocean, keep it in the rain or the snow – it doesn’t even matter. Considering that it sells for approximately $100, we think it is totally worth it. It’s gotten a ton of positive reviews, as well, so you can rest assured you’re going to end up with a good product on your hands.

It does have its drawbacks, but all in all the speaker is very decent. Wanna see how it compares to other portable Bluetooth speakers? Then read our guide on the best Wireless speakers.

Product Specifications

Audio Quality	B+
Built Quality	B+
Bass	B
Battery Life	Up to 6 hours
Waterproof	Yes
Max Connections	1
Audio Output Power	Unknown
Phone Calls
Signal-To-Noise Ratio	Unknown
Frequency Range	Unknown
Weight	0.64 lbs