The SoundLink Flex is ultimately a better speaker, but the Stormbox Flow has the best value.
The SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) and Stormbox Flow are very similar speakers, sharing a near-identical silhouette. While there are distinct differences between them, they have more in common than one might expect, given the significant price difference.
The Stormbox Flow can be thought of as a budget alternative for those who like the SoundLink Flex, but can’t pay the 50% additional cost. In this article, we’ll compare these speakers side by side, so you can easily determine whether to invest more in the Bose or save money and opt for the Tribit Stormbox Flow.
Key Takeaways:
- The Tribit Stormbox Flow is the best value between the two.
- The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has more modern features, like PositionIQ and AptX support.
- Both speakers feature similar designs and durability.
- The Tribit Stormbox Flow’s long-lasting battery far exceeds the SoundLink Flex.
Our Top Pick
Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Bose SoundLink Flex (Gen 2)
| Model | Stormbox Flow | SoundLink Flex (Gen 2) |
| Release Date: | Aug 2023 | Sept 2024 |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Output Power | 25W | 12W |
| Frequency Response: | 50Hz – 20kHz | 60Hz – 20kHz |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life | Up to 25 hours | Up to 14 hours |
| Multi-Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.47 oz | 1.3 lbs |
| Dimensions | 7.87 × 2.6 × 3.23″ | 7.91 x 2.05 x 3.54″ |
| App Support | Yes (Tribit App) | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Table of Contents
- Design, Build & Durability
- Controls, Connectivity & App Support
- Sound Quality & Volume
- Battery
- Price & Value
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Differences In Build Quality, Portability & Durability Between The Stormbox Flow And The SoundLink Flex (Gen 2)
- Both speakers have strong, durable builds with IP67 waterproofing.
- Neither speaker is particularly light for its size, but it remains suitable for daily use.
Design
Winner: Tie
There’s no getting away from the fact that the Tribit Stormbox Flow was inspired by the first-generation SoundLink Flex. However, despite their similarities, they still have subtle design differences.
The front grille on the Stormbox Flow spans across the center of the speaker, while the SoundLink Flex has a grille that runs across the lower 3/4ths of the speaker. There’s also a subtle difference in the carry strap, with the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 having a small, thick strap and the Tribit StormBox Flow having a thinner, but longer carry loop.
There’s no inherent benefit to either design.
Durability & Water Resistance
Winner: Tied
Both speakers have IP67 protection, meaning they’re both dust and waterproof. They’re also very durable speakers in terms of their build quality, and both come with drop protection. Drop protection isn’t something found on a lot of speakers, but it’s a great feature to have for peace of mind. It’s surprising, but also impressive, that Tribit added drop protection to a budget-friendly release.
The materials used on both speakers are also outstanding, with a metal front grille and controls that don’t feel like they’re going to be damaged with prolonged use over time.
Both of these speakers are made to be used indoors and outdoors.
Portability
Winner: Tied
Tribit Stormbox Flow
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2
At practically the same weight and size, there’s no advantage to either speaker when it comes to portability. They’re not exactly the lightest Bluetooth speakers you can buy, but one is trading off a lighter weight for a higher-quality feel and durability. The carry strap designs are slightly different, but neither makes the speaker inherently more portable.
Bose’s New Multi-Function Button Is Cool, But Will One Use It?
- Both speakers feature similar, easy-to-use controls, but the SoundLink Flex boasts a new button.
- AptX support for Android also gives the SoundLink Flex the advantage in latency.
- Both speakers have companion apps with custom EQ, but Tribit has a 5-band EQ compared to a 3-band EQ on the Bose app.
Connectivity
Winner: Tied
The Stormbox Flow and SoundLink Flex both use Bluetooth 5.3 for their wireless connectivity, resulting in similar Bluetooth performance. They both maintain a wireless connection at a distance, but the SoundLink Flex by Bose gives additional range, especially across open areas with a direct line of sight.
Both speakers have relatively low latency, which makes them suitable for watching videos on your phone, but Android users get a significant boost in performance when using the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, as it has AptX Snapdragon codec support, which provides slight audio improvements and lower latency.
Controls
Winner: Tied
Tribit Stormbox Flow
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2
A big upgrade over the original SoundLink Flex was the new control setup on the 2nd generation version. It mostly comes down to a single control, the “shortcut button”. This new shortcut button can be customized through the app, and it lets one toggle between multispeaker pairing (default), use it as a voice assistant shortcut, or configure it so that it opens up Spotify, with set playlists.
It’s a somewhat novel feature, but useful. Since it can be set up to have different purposes, it helps tailor the speaker to how you use it.
The Tribit Stormbox Flow doesn’t have a special shortcut key, mostly because it’s modeled off the older SoundLink Flex, before this button was added. However, the Stormbox Flow has its own special button, an EQ toggle that can be done directly from the speaker.
I like the features offered by the new Bose shortcut button, but I find myself wanting to toggle between EQ more than I want to jump to a specific playlist on Spotify or use voice assistance.
There’s no winner here; it’s just about what features you tend to use more.
TWS & Group Pairing
Winner: Tied
Both speakers support group and TWS pairing, meaning you can set up several to cover a large area or use two speakers in a stereo pairing for improved audio performance, including a more realistic soundstage.
App Support
Winner: Tied
Both speakers have their own companion apps, which give access to features like multi-speaker pairing and custom EQ. The Bose app is a bit more comprehensive in terms of features, but its EQ is only 3-band, compared to the 5-band offered by the Tribit.
Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Bose SoundLink Flex (Gen 2): Which Sounds Better?
- The Tribit Stormbox Flow is louder than the Bose SoundLink Flex.
- The SoundLink Flex has a more balanced sound, with fewer inconsistencies.
- Both speakers have good sound quality for their size.
Tribit Stormbox Flow
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2
Sound Quality
Winner: SoundLink Flex Gen 2
Sound quality is an area where the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has an advantage. Its sound is more balanced, and clarity at moderate volume levels is excellent. The Stormbox Flow doesn’t fall far behind, and truth be told, many people won’t really be able to tell the difference.
But when one looks at the frequency response differences between these speakers, the Bose is more neutral. The PositionIQ feature helps it to have the best sound profile for how it’s positioned, which is a useful feature too.
Dynamic range isn’t great on either speaker, though. Meaning that subtle nuances may be reduced as the volume is increased.
Which Speaker is Louder?
Winner: Stormbox Flow
The Tribit Stormbox Flow managed to reach a few more decibels compared to the SoundLink Flex. Both are capable of filling a small room, but the Stormbox Flow does a better job at it. One may expect that Bose, with its higher price point, would offer significantly better dynamic range, but that’s not the case.
Both speakers are similar in their compression levels at high volume, retaining a decent amount of clarity and detail. They both do a better job than the similarly sized JBL Flip 7, for instance.
With up to 25 playtime, the Tribit Stormbox Has Significantly More Playtime Than The SoundLink Flex Gen 2
Winner: Stormbox Flow
There’s no getting around the Tribit Stormbox Flow’s impressively long-lasting battery. It’s rated to last up to 25 hours, and in our testing, we found the estimate to be mostly accurate. At lower listening volumes of 20-30%, we got 23 hours of playtime. Between 50 to 75%, playtime was between 13 and 15 hours.
Comparatively, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is rated to last up to 14 hours, but in practice, the performance falls short, providing between 7 and 9 hours at moderate volume levels.
Keep in mind that performance varies depending on the EQ being used.
Price & Value
Winner: Stormbox Flow
There is a significant difference in prices between these two speakers. The Tribit Stormbox Flow costs just $89, compared to the $129 retail price of the Bose SoundLink Flex.
The main reason to invest in the Bose over the Tribit is its PositionIQ feature, which adjusts how the speaker sounds based on how it’s positioned, and its more balanced, high-quality sound. There’s not a whole lot separating the audio quality, but the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 comes with AptX Snapdragon support (only supported on Android devices).
I strongly believe the majority of people will get the best value from the Tribit Stormbox Flow, but that’s not to say the SoundLink Flex isn’t worth the extra money, if you’re looking for a 10-20% performance improvement in sound.
Conclusion
Both of these speakers are great. They’re durable, easily portable, and have good overall sound quality for their size. There are some limitations to both, especially at maximum volume, but otherwise, they’re solid choices.
I’d recommend the Tribit Stormbox Flow over the Bose for most people because of its longer battery life, more affordable price tag. It also manages to match the build quality and features of the SoundLink Flex Gen 2. Personally, the on-speaker EQ button and 5-band custom EQ through the app are significant bonus points for the Stormbox Flow.
Our Top Pick
