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Bose SoundLink Micro review
Published onApril 30, 2025
Bose SoundLink Micro
Portable Bluetooth speakers are perfect for taking the party on the road, but too often they sacrifice sound quality for size. That’s what makes the Bose SoundLink Micro stand out. Years after its release, this rugged, waterproof speaker remains a fan favorite for listeners who want great audio in a go-anywhere design. In this review, we’ll break down what makes the SoundLink Micro such a lasting contender in the portable speaker market.
- On August 23, 2023, to answer the FAQ about Bluetooth pairing and Party Mode
- on April 30th, 2025, to add the JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 5, and the SoundLink (Flex 2nd Gen) as modern alternatives
Hikers can attach this speaker to a backpack strap. It’s just asking you to take it on your next big adventure, and the IPX7 rating means you can take it out in the rain. Bikers can secure the speaker around their handlebars and play music while biking. This is preferred to using earbuds while commuting because you can stay aware of everything happening around you. Students who need a reliable Bluetooth speaker should get the SoundLink Micro. From dorm parties to apartment parties, there’s bound to be a time and a place that needs music. Despite its size, the Micro actually gets quite loud and can provide a college dorm room with good sound.
What is it like to use the Bose SoundLink Micro?
The SoundLink Micro is available in black, midnight blue, and orange. A soft-touch rubberized finish, identical to the (discontinued) Bose SoundLink Color II, makes it easy to grip while protecting it from the environment. Although the SoundLink Micro is water-resistant, it can’t float like the UE Roll 2. Still, it makes for a great shower speaker. For the curious, the speaker continues to play music while submerged. Just for kicks, I tried to use Google Assistant while it was submerged and couldn’t get it to work. When out of the water, the Micro’s microphone effectively registers voices for smart assistant requests and phone calls.
This durable speaker also includes a tear-resistant silicone strap. Try as you may, that strap knows resilience. It’s easy to latch this onto a backpack, bike rack, or anything else you can wrap it around. The latch secures into a cutout built into the back of the speaker, which keeps things nice and tidy.
How do you connect the Bose SoundLink Micro?
The SoundLink Micro only supports the SBC Bluetooth codec, but it has a premium feature too: Bluetooth multipoint. You can connect it to two source devices at once. This nifty feature lets you stream music from your computer while keeping an ear on notifications from your smartphone.
Audio lags behind video with a one-second delay. The same goes for commands like skipping tracks. This isn’t a deal-breaker so long as you don’t watch videos, but can be annoying at times, especially when you don’t know if it’s just a latency issue or if Google Assistant didn’t hear you.
To pair the Bose SoundLink Micro with your device, follow these steps:
- Ensure Bluetooth is enabled in your device’s settings to find nearby devices.
- Press the power button.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the SoundLink Micro until the Bluetooth LED blinks blue (about three to five seconds) and a voice prompt says it’s ready to connect.
- Select the Bose SoundLink Micro under devices.
- (Optionally) download the Bose Connect app to access all the features.
What does the Bose Connect app do?
The Bose Connect app offers fun features like Party Mode, which lets you connect two SoundLink speakers for double the audio output. You can even use Party Mode to listen in stereo, so long as you place the speakers far enough apart. You also get other features from the Bose Connect app, like an auto-off timer, virtual volume controls, and more. While all of these things are nice to have, the main reason you should get the Bose Connect app is for access to firmware updates at the cost of some of your data.
To pair two Bose SoundLink Micro speakers simultaneously for Party Mode, or stereo, you’ll need the Bose Connect app already set up with one of them. Here’s how to do it without the app.
- Bluetooth connect that one SoundLink Micro as you would ordinarily.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth and volume up buttons on the already connected speaker simultaneously.
- At the same time, press and hold the Bluetooth and volume decrease buttons on the second speaker until you hear a tone.
- Wait roughly 10 seconds for a voice to confirm Party Mode.
Here’s how to pair two Bose speakers with the Bose Connect app:
- Turn on both speakers.
- Pair one of the speakers as you would ordinarily.
- Open the Bose Connect app, and select Party Mode.
- Select Continue and wait for your second speaker to connect. If that doesn’t work, try turning the second speaker off and on again.
If you want to switch to or from Party Mode (which plays audio in mono, just on more than one speaker) to or from stereo, go to the Party Mode section of the app. Once the speakers have both connected, scroll down and tap Stereo L/R.
How’s the battery life on the Bose SoundLink Micro?
The Bose SoundLink Micro’s battery life falls short of the 6-hour playtime. When we set the volume to 50%, we squeezed out around 5 hours of playtime.
According to Bose, a 1A power source will take 4 hours to complete a full charge cycle, while a 1.5A source will take closer to 3 hours. That ratio of charge time to playback time — not great. On the flip side, users can simultaneously play music while charging if at home or using a portable power pack.
Does the Bose SoundLink Micro sound good?
This speaker gets plenty loud. Its volume output rivals the larger SoundLink Color II but can’t quite match it. Still, users won’t get away with blasting the volume from a modestly sized apartment complex. In fact, the most defining aspect of this speaker may very well be its volume. Though it won’t be able to entertain a large party, the Micro can certainly handle intimate gatherings.
Lows, mids, and highs
Its minuscule size is misleading since the SoundLink Micro pumps out unexpectedly strong bass. With volume maxed out while playing Stupid Rose by Kweku Collins, I can feel the air movement against my hand when it’s 10cm away from the speaker.
The SoundLink Micro reproduces Collins’ vocals clearly and the low-end doesn’t overwhelm higher pitched sound until the volume reaches 75%. Again, bumping the volume beyond 60% diminishes sound quality. In Stupid Rose, treble clarity drops off during the synth-solo that begins at 2:45.
Does the Bose SoundLink Micro have a microphone?
The Bose SoundLink Micro belongs to a rare breed of Bluetooth speakers that includes an integrated microphone system, which is great, but doesn’t sound spectacular. Low and midrange vocal frequencies are attenuated, which can make you sound a bit unnatural. Plus, there seems to be some static that’s relayed during phone calls. Take a listen to and rate the demo below; doing so really helps other readers understand how the mic compares to a wide variety of products.
Bose SoundLink Micro microphone demo (non-standardized):
How does the microphone sound to you?
As of December 6, 2021, a total of 85% of readers have rated the above mic sample as somewhere between “okay” and “good.” This is a pretty good result for a Bluetooth speaker microphone, and at the upper end of what you should expect to get out of any products of this type.
Should you buy the Bose SoundLink Micro?
If you’re big on traveling and want a speaker that you can take anywhere, the Bose SoundLink Micro is the Bluetooth speaker for you. Bose’s speaker may rock some outdated hardware, like the micro-USB input, but it’s one of the best sounding portable speakers in this price range. Bike commuters and dorm party hosts everywhere will get plenty of use out of this portable speaker for years to come. Bose’s one-year warranty may not be the most impressive thing we’ve come across, but it has you covered as far as manufacturing defects are concerned.
For those on the fence, know this: you won’t be disappointed by the SoundLink Micro. This is one of the best compact, durable, portable speakers around.
Should you buy this over the Bose SoundLink Micro or the SoundLink Color II?
There are plenty of reasons to choose this micro speaker over the larger alternative. The SoundLink Micro is less than half the size and half the weight of the Bose SoundLink Color II. If travel is your main concern, the SoundLink Micro is the better pick. Not only does it take up less space, but it can also be hooked onto almost anything.
The Bose-branded SoundLink Micro and Color II share many of the same features: both can connect to an Amazon Echo Dot and support virtual assistants like Google Assistant. Both support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, allowing each speaker to simultaneously connect to two devices via Bluetooth multipoint. The main difference regarding features is that the SoundLink Color II includes a 3.5mm input.
If you want better and louder audio output, get the (discontinued) Bose SoundLink Color II for $203 at Amazon.
What should you get instead of the Bose SoundLink Micro?
If you need something with a bit more output for your next outing, consider stepping up to the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen). This speaker delivers bigger sound and boasts an even tougher IP67 rating, meaning it’s both dustproof and fully waterproof—perfect for beach trips, hikes, or wherever your playlist takes you. You’ll still get convenient features like a built-in microphone for calls and voice assistants, plus an assignable shortcut button for quick access to your favorite functions. Find one for $149 at Amazon.
However, if you’re set on keeping things ultra-portable, the JBL Go 4 ($49.95 at Amazon) and JBL Clip 5 ($79.95 at Amazon) are two great alternatives. Both speakers come with an IP67 rating, so they’re fully protected against dust and water, and they now support the JBL Portable app with some EQ options—something we didn’t get in earlier models. These are true grab-and-go speakers built for convenience without totally skimping on features. Check out our video above to learn more about the Go 4 and Clip 5.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Bose SoundLink Micro can be used for phone calls. The microphone quality isn’t great, though. If you intend to use it for professional calls, you may want to go with a dedicated headset for conference calls.