Beats Pill vs Bose Soundlink Flex

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, there are a lot of good options out there. That said, you can’t go long in your search without running into two of the biggest players in the audio game: Beats and Bose. While the Bose SoundLink Flex has been out for a few years, the Beats Pill just recently received a major refresh. That said, you are sure to find both at most major retailers. If you’re comparing the Beats Pill vs Bose SoundLink Flex, you’ve come to the right place.

Editor’s note: this article was published on July 12, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Beats Pill compared to the Bose SoundLink Flex?

The Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex share a similar form factor. At 680g, the Beats Pill is slightly heavier than the 589g of the Bose SoundLink Flex. It’s also a tad bit longer, but both fit inside a backpack without a problem.

If you’re interested in taking your music with you to the beach, you’ll be happy to know that both the Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex have an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. The Bose SoundLink Flex has a small lanyard loop, whereas the Beats Pill has a larger loop that you can hang over a shower head.

Both speakers have a built-in microphone, so you can use either as a speaker phone for conference calls.

How do you control the Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex?

The controls of the Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex are nearly identical; both feature mushy buttons on top of the speaker. You can use the controls on either speaker to control pairing and music playback.

Should you use the apps of either the Beats Pill or Bose SoundLink Flex?

The Beats Pill has an app for Android, whereas iOS users can access all the functionality from directly within the Settings app on their device. Whether you are on Android or iOS, there isn’t much useful software functionality, aside from some customization over the controls and Find My support to track down a lost speaker.

On the other hand, the Bose Connect app is supported on both iOS and Android. This app is also not very useful though, beyond learning how to use your speaker when you first get it. It’s a shame neither the Beats Pill nor the Bose SoundLink Flex have native equalizer support in their respective apps to adjust the sound.

How do the Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex connect?

The Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex are both Bluetooth speakers, though you can also listen wired with the Beats Pill using its USB-C input. Neither speaker has a 3.5mm aux input.

We didn’t experience connection issues with the Bose SoundLink Flex, but sometimes the app wouldn’t register that the speaker was paired. The Beats Pill worked fine during our testing period, and it supports instant pairing to both iOS and Android devices.

You can pair two Beats Pill speakers together in either a stereo mode or amplified mono mode. The Bose SoundLink Flex also supports these features with additional Bose speakers.

Is battery life better on the Beats Pill or Bose SoundLink Flex?

Bose claims the SoundLink Flex lasts 12 hours on a single charge. In our battery testing, this was right on the nose, as the speaker lasted exactly 11 hours and 59 minutes of continuous playback. It takes 4 hours to fully charge the Bose SoundLink Flex.

On the other hand, the Beats Pill is stated to last 24 hours on a single charge. Our battery testing is ongoing, but it’s safe to say the Beats Pill has a better chance of making it through a full day of use. Fast charging the Beats Pill provides 2 hours of playback from only 10 minutes of charging.

Does the Beats Pill sound better than the Bose SoundLink Flex?

If you like bass, you’ll probably prefer the sound of the Beats Pill to that of the Bose SoundLink Flex. I found that the Beats Pill has very impressive bass output for its size. In fact, I’ve yet to hear any speaker close to this size that can output this much in the low-end. On the other hand, our testing shows a very sharp roll-off in the low-end of the Bose SoundLink Flex below 100Hz, which you can see in the chart below.

In terms of maximum volume, the Bose SoundLink Flex and Beats Pill perform similarly since they are almost the exact same size. Both work well for a beach picnic or small gathering but don’t expect to use either for a full house party.

Should you get the Beats Pill or Bose SoundLink Flex?

The Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex share an identical retail price of $150. Considering they are also the same size, have the same durability, and pretty much the exact same features, this is a toss-up.

If you want wired listening over USB-C or appreciate some thumping bass, the Beats Pill is the better buy. On the other hand, if you want more detail in the mids and highs, you’re probably better off with the Bose SoundLink Flex. Either way, you’re getting a capable Bluetooth speaker.

What should you get instead of the Beats Pill or Bose SoundLink Flex?

The most popular option in this category is the JBL Flip 6, $99 at Amazon. This speaker is a little bit smaller and a little bit cheaper, but delivers pretty much the same features as the Beats Pill and Bose SoundLink Flex. If you want to save even more money, make sure to check out our list of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers.

If you’re looking for something with more punch, I would consider the JBL Charge 5, $149 at Amazon. It’s a little bit larger, but that also means louder output. Plus, you can use it as a battery pack to charge up your phone on the go.

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