Design and build:

Comparing Sonos Roam vs Bose Soundlink Flex, the Roam is smaller in size and lightweight. It is highly portable and with rubberized body, it is easy to grip. It has a triangular-shaped design whereas the Soundlink Flex has a rectangular shape. They are available in several color options and have IP67 rating. They are also impact resistive which means the speakers can withstand sudden falls.

Bose Soundlink Flex can float on water so even if you accidentally drop it, there is no worry. It has a powder-coated metal grille and silicone-made body. It comes with a small strap so that you can hang the speaker easily. Overall, the build quality of these speakers is quite good. Between the two, the Sonos Roam is easier to carry on-the-go and you can easily carry it in your back pack.

Performance:

Comparing Sonos Roam vs Bose Soundlink Flex, the Soundlink Flex can get louder. You can place both these speakers either horizontally or vertically. The Soundlink Flex uses Bose PositionIQ that will analyze speaker orientation to optimize the audio performance. Sonos Roam uses Trueplay technology that ‘scans’ the room acoustics and adjust the sound. It is powerful enough to fill small to medium sized rooms. This natural sounding speaker has decent clarity. When you connect another Sonos Roam, you will get impressive stereo separation.

Bose Soundlink Flex has balanced mids and deep bass along with clear vocals. The performance maintains its accuracy throughout the frequency spectrum. At such a small size, the sound is powerful and of good quality. It is great for everyday listening purpose. Out of the box accuracy of this speaker is quite good. It has better soundstage with focused directivity than the Roam.

Features:

In Sonos Roam vs Bose Soundlink Flex comparison, it is seen that the Soundlink Flex does not have any smart features or any microphone facility. Sonos Roam works with Airplay 2 that allows you to play audio content from Apple device to the Sonos speakers or other Aiplay 2 supported speakers in the house. The speaker can talk to Siri in Apple devices to control audio content.

Sonos Roam is a part of the wireless multiroom ecosystem that can connect to speaker, players and amplifiers. With Wi-Fi, the Roam is free to stream content from anywhere online that includes internet radio, music streaming services, etc. It has Automatic Switching and Sound swap options. This means the speaker can switch between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. With Sound swap you can transfer audio from Sonos Roam to another speaker.

Connectivity:

Comparing Sonos Roam vs Bose Soundlink Flex, the Sonos Roam supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Soundlink Flex only works with Bluetooth and misses out smart features available in Sonos. For iOS users, Sonos Roam offers low latency whereas the Soundlink Flex is suitable for Android users over Bluetooth. With Sonos Roam, you cannot connect to two devices over Bluetooth.

Multiple speaker pairing:

Bose Soundlink Flex connects to other Bose speakers over Bluetooth connection. It can create stereo or party mode. It has SimpleSync feature that allows you to connect the Soundlink Flex with Bose Home speaker family that includes Soundbar 300/ 500/700/900, Home Speaker 300/500 and Portable Home Speaker.

Sonos Roam allows you to connect speakers through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Like, you can create a stereo pair with another Roam over Wi-Fi network only. This means you can create whole house audio with the Roam.

Microphone:

The Soundlink Flex comes with built-in microphone, you can connect smartphone to the speaker and talk to Google Assistant and Siri. As you connect with Bluetooth, you can use voice prompts to add multiple devices. it allows you to answer and take phone calls.

The Roam has microphone that allows you to speak to Alexa and Google Assistant over Wi-Fi. It can also speak to Siri. It has impressive far-field performance and can detect your tone in a noisy room.

Battery life:

Comparing Bose Soundlink Flex vs Sonos Roam, the Roam lasts around 6 to 7 hours. The Soundlink Flex lasts around 7 hours. The Flex has slightly higher battery life than the Roam. That said, the Roam battery life varies depending on connection, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Control options:

Bose uses Bose Connect app but there are no EQ settings nor does it support multi-room audio. Sonos Roam works with Sonos S2 app. Unlike Soundlink Flex, the app has the option to change bass and treble levels. This allows you to change the sound tone as per your preference. With Roam, you can connect multiple speakers for multiroom audio throughout the house.

Along with Bluetooth and volume control, the Soundlink Flex has multifunctional button that you can use for phone call, play/pause, next/previous track, etc. The Roam has volume, play/pause and microphone buttons.

Cost:

Sonos Roam and Bose Soundlink Flex is available under $150. They are similar priced but at the same price the Roam is packed with features.

FAQ

Can you mute the microphone in Sonos Roam?

Yes, Sonos Roam gives you the option to mute microphone in order to maintain privacy.

Can I connect Bose Soundlink Flex with a TV?

While they are not designed to be used as TV speakers, you can connect the Bose Soundlink Flex with a TV as long as it has Bluetooth.