Bose’s speaker lineup gets another sequel in the Bose SoundLink Mini II

Last year we reviewed the Bose SoundLink Mini, and while there was a lot to like about it, not everything was perfect. Now Bose has announced a sequel to that speaker that keeps everything good about the original in addition to stepping up and improving the weak spots.

Our two main issues with the original SoundLink Mini were the relatively short battery life, and the lack of speakerphone. Both of these problems are being addressed in the Bose SoundLink Mini II. Speakerphone has been added, and the battery life has been bumped from 7 to 10 hours, making it much more likely to last a full day.

The older model could be charged either with an included cradle or via an AC jack. The SoundLink Mini II keeps those options, though it also adds USB charging, which brings it up to speed with the majority of Bluetooth speakers out there.

What hasn’t changed are the dimensions. The SoundLink Mini II weighs just 1.5 lbs and measures 7.1-inches wide, 2.3-inches deep, and just 2-inches tall. This doesn’t mean that the speaker is identical to the original in appearance — the Mini II is a slightly refined design.

“The original SoundLink Mini did something remarkable,” product manager for Bose SoundLink speakers Jack Yu said. “There was nothing else like it, and it continues to amaze people with its sound. Our engineers kept all that performance — and added new ways to use it and love it.”

This includes revamped pairing. While this was always relatively simple, voice prompts now guide the user through the pairing process, a boon if you’re buying one of these for a less then tech-savvy relative. Two devices can now be connected at the same time as well, which is handy for splitting party DJ duties.

While the original SoundLink was only available in silver, the SoundLink Mini II is available in Carbon and Pearl varieties. To keep it safe, soft covers in Gray, Charcoal Black, Deep Red, Energy Green, and Navy Blue are sold separately for $25 each.

The Bose SoundLink Mini II will sell for the same price as the original at $200, and will be available on June 21. Pre-orders are available now via the Bose website.