Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Sound
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
Apple HomePod (1st generation) vs Bose SoundLink Micro
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Apple HomePod (1st generation)
Bose SoundLink Micro
Tested using Methodology v0.8
Updated Sep 04, 2024 07:33 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v0.8
Updated Aug 15, 2024 01:02 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
BluetoothNo
Wi-FiYes
SpeakerphoneYes
Voice AssistantYes
Battery PoweredNo
BluetoothYes
Wi-FiNo
SpeakerphoneYes
Voice AssistantYes
Battery PoweredYes
Variants
- HomePod (1st generation) (Space Gray)
- HomePod (1st generation) (White)
- SoundLink Micro (Black)
- SoundLink Micro (Bright Orange)
- SoundLink Micro (Midnight Blue)
- SoundLink Micro (Stone Blue)
- SoundLink Micro (White Smoke)
Our Verdict
Apple HomePod (1st generation)
Bose SoundLink Micro
The Apple HomePod (1st generation) and Bose SoundLink Micro have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other. The Apple speaker has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. It has Siri built-in, which is great if you use voice assistants, and you can stream audio to the bar via Wi-Fi. However, it may be harder to find in new condition since it's been discontinued. The Bose is battery-powered, so it's more portable and better suited for outdoor use. It also has an IP67 rating for water resistance that certifies it to be immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
Main Differences for
Threshold
Music
7.0
5.8
Frequency Response Accuracy
7.3
5.6
Dynamics
6.8
5.7
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Style Photo
RGB Lights
No
No
Portability
4.2
9.4
Dimensions Photo
Volume
203 in³ (3,332 cm³)
26 in³ (418 cm³)
Weight
5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
0.7 lbs (0.3 kg)
Power Source
AC Only
Battery & USB
One-Hand Carry
No
Yes
Build Quality
6.4
8.5
Build Quality Photo
Material Quality
Good
Good
Water Resistance
No
Submersible (IPx7)
Dust Resistance
Unspecified
Dust-Proof (IP6x)
Impact Resistance
No
Yes (IK rating unspecified)
Floats In Water
No
No
Controls
8.0
7.9
Controls Photo
Controls Photo 2
Ease Of Use
Great
Great
Feedback
Great
Good
Music Play/Pause
Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Physical)
Call Answer/End
Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Physical)
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Physical)
Track Next/Previous
Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Physical)
Microphone On/Off
No
No
Additional Controls
Yes
Yes
In The Box
In The Box Photo
Sound
Frequency Response Accuracy
7.3
5.6
Frequency Response Graph
Slope
0.19
-0.63
Std. Err.
2.35 dB
4.44 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
53.4 Hz
91.1 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.1 kHz
16.0 kHz
Raw Frequency Response
Raw Frequency Response Graph
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
Soundstage
7.5
7.5
Directivity Graph
Directivity Index
0.97 dB
1.04 dB
Stereo
No (mono)
No (mono)
Dynamics
6.8
5.7
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
88.5 dB SPL
78.6 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
2.41 dB
2.27 dB
Active Features
Battery
0.0
6.5
Battery Life
N/A
7.8 hrs
Charge Time
N/A
5.4 hrs
Power Saving
No
Yes
Charging Port
No Battery
Micro-USB
Battery Powered
No
Yes
Voice Assistant
10
4.9
Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
Yes (Requires Smartphone)
Speakerphone
Yes
Yes
Siri
Built-in
Yes (Requires Smartphone)
Voice Assistant
Yes
Yes
Voice Activation
Yes
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
No
Far-Field Performance
Excellent
Excellent
Ambient Noise Performance
Excellent
Decent
App
6.6
6.6
App Picture
App Name
Apple Home
Bose Connect
iOS
Yes
Yes
Android
No
Yes
EQ
No
No
Stereo Pair Mode
Yes
Yes
Party Mode
Yes
Yes
Multi-Room
Yes
No
Connectivity
Wired
Aux Input
No
No
USB Audio
No
No
Other Ports
No
No
Bluetooth
0.0
8.7
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Unspecified
Bluetooth iOS Latency
N/A
67 ms
Bluetooth Android Latency
N/A
98 ms
Bluetooth Range
N/A
187.0 ft (57.0 m)
Multi-Device Pairing
No
2 Devices
Wi-Fi
8.1
0.0
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 5
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
2.4GHz & 5GHz
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Yes
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
No
AirPlay Latency
37 ms
N/A
Google Chromecast
No
No
Chromecast Latency
N/A
N/A
You have 10/10 free reviews left
To access
and
Become an Insider
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
other exclusive site features
Apple HomePod (1st generation)
Bose SoundLink Micro
Comments
Apple HomePod (1st generation) vs Bose SoundLink Micro: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.