If you’re after a fully portable speaker that doesn't scrimp on bass weight, the SoundLink Mini II could be for you
Pros
- + Full-bodied sound
- + Weighty bass
- + Portable
Cons
- - Lows lack precision and agility
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At just 5.1cm tall, the Bose SoundLink Mini II truly can be described as “palm-sized”.
Build
It is a fairly heavy baby, however. There is no sign of flimsiness or fragility, and we're fans of the clean design. Our review product is a smart two-tone grey – though we think the black alternative is equally slick and covers are available if you fancy something more jazzy.
External features are kept to a minimum; there are the usual buttons for power, pairing [you can link two devices at a time and switch between them] and volume.
There’s also an almost incognito pair of jacks on the side for USB charging [ten hours maximum claimed life] and auxiliary input.
Beneath the shell is what Bose describes as “an innovative driver configuration”. Not only does it provide much of the bulk, it gives a fuller, more bass-heavy sound than you might expect from a speaker this size.
Sounding bigger than you are is not an uncommon aim in this field, but the key is getting that low end balanced and taut. That is what we are yet to hear, especially at this price.
Sound
That extra depth is immediately clear as we play Jose Gonzalez’s Heartbeats. Both nylon-string acoustic guitar and vocal are exceedingly rich, offering the warmth of a winter's night by an open fire.
There's an impressive amount of space too, letting each part breathe and offering an extra dimension to the doubled vocal. The dynamics are subtle but pleasantly expressive.
Testing the agility of that bass with more weighty tracks such as Future Islands' A Dream Of You And Me, we're left in two minds. There's a very bass-heavy balance that removes that element of space and a great amount of the detail present in emptier tracks.
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But it isn't altogether boomy or distorted – it does as good a job as anything we've heard at this price and stature.
Of course it struggles a little more with songs that are busier or more coarse in the low end, but, even when we play Queens Of The Stone Age's A Song For The Dead it doesn't become a difficult listen.
What the SoundLink Mini II does well – adding greater stability and richness to the mid and treble frequencies in acoustic tracks – is immediately undermined by the fact it loses all that as soon as you add a bass guitar or similar.
We'd prefer to sacrifice some of that warmth and bass weight for better detail and expression across the board.
Verdict
Still, if there is a market for tiny speakers with more than their fair share of low end, Bose have made one that stands up to its rivals, many of whom lose all sense of composure with tracks such as some of our test tracks.
If you’re in that camp, you'll probably be taking a Mini II home.
If not, we'd suggest you compromise on price, size or frequency range, but not overall sonic capability and take a look at the Bose's closest rivals, such as the Ausio Pro Adddon T3 or the JBL Xtreme.
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The Bose SoundLink Mini II SE is a refresh of previously released SoundLink Mini and Mini II. The original Mini released in 2013, the Mini II in 2015 and the current Mini II SE we are reviewing was released in 2019.
In the box, the Bose SoundLink Mini II SE comes with a quick start guide, manual and a USB A to USB C charging cable. It has two speakers built-in, rated for 50W and is advertised to last for 12 hours, two hours longer than the outgoing non-SE version. Dimensions are 7.1″ x 2″ x 2.3″ or 18 cm x 5.1 cm x 5.8 cm and weights 1.5 lbs or 680 g. The USB charge port is upgraded from microUSB found in the SoundLink Mini and Mini II to USB C. Audio can be either played through bluetooth connection or through the 3.5mm aux input. There is a metal grille on the front and back of the speaker, with the front grill emblazoned with the Bose logo. Up top, you find five rubberized control buttons. It comes in two colours, Luxe Silver and Triple Black.
As with build quality, it is what you come to expect with pretty much any Bose product. It is solidly built with high quality materials and has no creaking. Besides the rubberized base and control buttons, the speaker is made out of metal. For it’s size, it feels hefty and well built. There is a small port on the bottom of the speakers for a charging dock that is not included in the box.
With the audio, it does well for small to medium sized rooms, producing a clean and natural sound, leaning towards a warmer profile. It provides good bass that is not overly boosted, clear mids and decent highs. Volume-wise, it’s more than sufficient. There is a built-in microphone, so it can take calls. Calls come in clearly and people on the other end can hear me quite well. You do not have the option to customize the EQ on it, so that is a bit of a downside, but not the biggest dealbreaker.
The speakers do not have NFC connectivity for quick pairing or the ability to charge your phone in a pinch, like many of it’s modern counterparts. It does not have any waterproof or splashproof rating, so you will want to keep it out of the elements or a high humidity setting like by the pool, beach or in the shower to keep it working well in the long term. With bluetooth connectivity, it will connect to Android and Apple iOS phones, and both Windows and MacOS computers with bluetooth connectivity. It connects automatically to two connected devices and additional six are stored in it’s pairing list. Once it’s turned on, it pairs quickly with no fuss and next to no latency with the audio. For the size, the speakers is portable, but is on the heavier side if you don’t want to carry around a literal brick. For that reason, it’s more suited for home use and the occasional outing that doesn’t require carrying it around too much.
Overall, the SoundLink Mini II SE is a solid bluetooth speaker. Though it lacks a few of the newer features like NFC, waterproof rating and powerbank functions that it’s modern counterparts have, it is a powerhouse and would recommend it, though it is a bit on the pricier side.
Markus Lai
Editor-in Chief at Broken Fuse VG Blog. Former chef turned Civil Engineer/Thermal Imaging tech. Can be found outdoors canoeing/biking, doing photography or playing video games in his free time. Follow him on twitter at twitter.com/verius
What is the difference of the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Special Edition?
Now with 20% more battery life, a USB-C charging port, and two special edition colors — Luxe Silver or Triple Black. Enter ZIP Code to see when it will arrive. Give a big gift in a small package this season with the SoundLink Mini II Special Edition bundle.
Is the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 still good?
Our Verdict. The Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is okay for listening to music, thanks to its relatively balanced default sound profile. Like other small speakers, it lacks low-bass, but in this case, it has a punchy high-bass response that still works well for genres like EDM and hip-hop.
How long does it take to charge a Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Special Edition?
Allow up to four hours to fully charge the battery. A full charge powers the speaker for up to 12 hours. Tip: To extend the battery playback time, reduce the volume.
How do I update my Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Special Edition?
To update your product:.
On a computer, go to btu.bose.com to open the Bose updater. ... .
View the terms of use, then click Accept and Continue to start..
Click Download and save the file to your computer..
Open the file and install the updater..