Tarun Verma
If you’re already a Bose fan and need a tough portable speaker, the SoundLink Micro is a must-have accessory. If not, try the JBL Clip 4 to save money.
A portable Bluetooth speaker is a great option for taking the party with you, but the sound quality may suffer. The Bose SoundLink Micro is not one of them. After all these years, this waterproof speaker remains one of our top picks. It even has an elastic strap to keep your bike or bag secure while you’re out exploring.
While smart home technology is becoming more common, incorporating a new piece of technology into your home can be intimidating, especially if it requires some familiarity with its features and functions. Those with iPhones have the option of purchasing the Apple HomePod mini, which is a convenient option. This smart speaker, in addition to looking great, is ideal for any Apple user’s home. Apple’s larger HomePod speaker has been downsized. The Siri digital assistant can be used to control this smart speaker with voice commands. Siri can perform a wide range of tasks, such as providing information, sending messages, reading the news, and setting reminders. It can control the temperature in your smart home as well as carry out other commands.
Bose Soundlink Micro vs Apple Homepod Mini: comparison table
| Features | Bose Soundlink Micro | Apple Homepod Mini |
| Launching Year | 2021 | 2021 |
| Brand | Bose | Apple |
| Model Name | Bose Soundlink Micro | Apple Homepod Mini |
| Connector Type | Bluetooth | Wired |
| Available Colors | Orange, Blue, Black | White, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Black |
| Average Battery Life | 12 hours | NA |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hour | 2.5 hour |
| Compatibility | Smartphone, Tablet, PC, All Bluetooth Devices | Smartphone, Tablet, PC, All Bluetooth Devices |
| Bluetooth | Version 5.0 | Version 5.0v |
| Connection Distance Range (Bluetooth) | 10m | 10m |
| Online Price Ranges | Rs.10,999 | Rs.9,900 |
| Customer Ratings | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 |
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Bose Soundlink Micro vs Apple Homepod Mini: Detailed Analysis
Design and Build Quality
The SoundLink Micro is available in three colours: black, midnight blue, and orange. This product, like the Bose SoundLink Color II, has a rubberized coating that makes it easy to hold and protects it from the elements. The SoundLink Micro, unlike the UE Roll 2, does not float in water. In any case, it’s a great shower stereo. For those who are interested, the speaker remains submerged and continues to play music. I tried using Google Assistant while it was underwater just for fun, and it didn’t work. Even when submerged, the Micro’s microphone can pick up voices for smart assistant requests and phone calls.
In terms of size, shape, and weight, Apple’s HomePod mini is comparable to a softball. Except for the base and touchpad, the mesh fabric covers everything. Despite my cat repeatedly knocking the HomePod mini off the windowsill, it continued to function. The speaker is well-made, but the white fabric gets dirty quickly (but hey, you can get the grey variant instead).
Connectivity
Bluetooth multipoint is a premium feature, but the SoundLink Micro currently only supports the SBC Bluetooth codec. It has a dual-source input, allowing you to connect two devices at the same time. While listening to music on their computer, the user can receive notifications on their smartphone.
The audio follows the visuals in one second. Controls such as song skipping work in the same way. It’s not a deal breaker, but it can be aggravating when you’re not sure whether Google Assistant simply didn’t hear you or if there’s a delay involved.
The Apple HomePod mini, on the other hand, communicates wirelessly via 802.11n Wi-Fi, so your mobile device or computer must be connected to the same network as the speaker. The host answers questions and streams live content online.
You can still use AirPlay with other Apple devices that are signed into the same iCloud account even if you don’t have an active internet connection. (Before the service was terminated, the products had to be linked to the same account.) The HomePod mini does not support Bluetooth, but it does support Apple AirPlay and Handoff. Simply bring the two devices to close together while playing music to switch between the HomePod mini and your phone as the audio source.
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Battery
The Bose SoundLink Micro’s battery life falls short of the 6-hour playtime. We were able to get about five hours of use by reducing the volume to half.
According to Bose, a 1A power source will take approximately 4 hours to fully charge the device, while a 1.5A source will take approximately 3 hours. That’s not a very good charge time to use time ratio. Users, on the other hand, can listen to music while charging at home or with a portable power pack.
Sound quality
The Apple HomePod mini is an omnidirectional speaker that sends high-quality sound in all directions. Thanks to Apple’s innovative engineering, this tiny orb houses a full-range driver and two passive bass radiators. Despite its small size, a single speaker can fill a large space with sound.
The passive bass radiators’ increased bass response allows Paak’s voice to shine through. Although the bass of the HomePod mini does not quite match that of the JBL Charge 5, it still exceeds most listeners’ expectations given the speaker’s small size.
The higher frequencies are also enhanced, though not to the same extent as the low end. This is a common practice in the audio industry because most listeners prefer more bass while still wanting some treble detail in their cymbal hits. This appears to be good news for mainstream music styles. Even in an instrumentally dense song like Tiger Really’s Rites of Spring, Apple’s HomePod mini faithfully reproduces every instrument, including vocals, drums, bass guitar, and guitar parts.
Alternatively, the Bose Soundlink speaker can be turned up quite loudly. In terms of volume, the SoundLink Color II, which is significantly larger, is a close competitor. Even so, users will be barred from blasting music from a small apartment complex. The volume of this speaker is most likely its distinguishing feature. Despite its shortcomings, the Micro is ideal for small gatherings.
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Bose Soundlink Micro vs Apple Homepod Mini: Quick Result
| Particulars | Bose Soundlink Micro | Apple Homepod Mini | Which one is the best? |
| Battery Life | Good | Amazing | Any |
| Deep Bass | Great | Good | Both |
| Sound Quality | Better | Best | Apple Homepod Mini |
Bose Soundlink Micro vs Apple Homepod Mini: Final Verdict
If you frequently travel and need a portable device, the Bose SoundLink Micro is an excellent Bluetooth speaker. Despite the lack of a modern input (MicroUSB), Bose’s speaker is one of the best-sounding portable speakers at this price. This portable speaker will serve cyclists and college students hosting parties for many years. The one-year warranty from Bose isn’t the most impressive we’ve seen, but it does cover manufacturing defects.
If the lack of a mute button on the Apple HomePod Mini bothers you, you have a few options. The Amazon Echo (Gen. 4) is similar to the HomePod mini in size and uses the Alexa assistant. The top of the speaker has a microphone mute button, and when it is pressed, the bottom LED ring light turns red. The speaker is slightly louder than the HomePod mini because it has two tweeters and one woofer. The Alexa virtual assistant is similar to Apple’s Siri, except that it works better with Amazon’s devices and services (such as the Amazon Firestick and Amazon Music) than with Apple’s.
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