The SoundLink Micro is small, measuring 3.9 by 3.9 by 1.4 inches (HWD) and weighing about 10.2 ounces. The rounded contour of the speaker is covered in matte, water-resistant silicone rubber and comes in black, blue, or orange. Its IPX7 rating means it can be immersed in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes, making it an excellent poolside companion and all-around outdoor companion. The speaker is designed to sit flat, with its perforated grille projecting sound upward. A single mono transducer sits behind the grille, next to a passive radiator, with another passive radiator firing out the opposite panel. Bose made the right decision by opting for more bass response rather than adding a second driver for left/right channels—you won’t get stereo separation with a speaker this small. Three buttons are located above the perforated grill on the front panel. The volume up/down buttons work in conjunction with your phone’s master volume levels, while a central multifunction button, depending on how many times you tap it, controls playback, call management, and track navigation. The panel also houses the microphone for the speakerphone, which has above-average intelligibility. Transmissions were easy to understand using an iPhone 6s, with no discernible distortion or fuzziness. A rubber, flexible band separates the power and Bluetooth pairing buttons on the top of the speaker. The bottom of the band snaps open and closed, allowing you to attach the speaker to a variety of objects. The top of the band is integrated into the speaker’s body and houses an LED readout that displays battery life. There is no aux input, which is a little disappointing. The Bose Connect mobile app (for Android and iOS) isn’t required, but it does provide a few additional features when using the Micro. If you have other SoundLink speakers, you can use the app to group them together in Party Mode. To save battery life, you can also set an auto-off timer ranging from five minutes to three hours (or never). The app also allows you to adjust the volume, control playback, and check battery life, but you can do all of that with your phone’s built-in controls and the battery indicator on the Micro’s top panel.
