The rugged Bose Soundlink Flex is 25 percent off right now

We saw a host of excellent Bose discounts during Amazon’s so-called Big Spring Sale last month; however, none of them were quite as steep as the current price drop we’re seeing on the latest Bose Soundlink Flex. Right now, the portable speaker is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $119 ($40 off), nearly matching its best price to date. [Product: Bose Soundlink Flex (second-gen) | https://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundLink-Bluetooth-Waterproof-Dustproof/dp/B0DV5H3S16/?tag=theverge02-20, https://goto.walmart.com/c/482924/565706/9383?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FBose-SoundLink-Flex-II-Wireless-Waterproof-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-Black%2F5824978640, https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/c/482924/614286/10014?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fproduct%2Fbose-soundlink-flex-2nd-gen-portable-bluetooth-speaker-with-waterproof-dustproof-design-black%2FJ7C5V6T6FZ%2Fsku%2F6590416] A few years back, we crowned the original Soundlink Flex the best portable Bluetooth speaker under $200. It was an impressive speaker with expansive sound and a surprising amount of low-end thump, not to mention a rugged, IP67-rated design that allowed you to take it pretty much anywhere. It was a real winner in many respects, particularly for its compact size, which is probably why Bose didn’t feel the need to completely reinvent the wheel with the second iteration. The second-gen Flex is nearly identical to the first-gen model, only with a few subtle refinements. The travel-friendly speaker features a redesigned control strip with a new play / pause button and a power button that’s easier to locate — a welcome upgrade, given that the buttons on the original weren’t easy to use by feel alone. The 2nd Gen version also features adjustable EQ and support for higher-res AAC and aptX codecs, though you still get up to 12 hours of battery life, stereo pairing (if you own two), and weatherproofing, making the silicone-wrapped speaker a great picnic or poolside companion. More deals and discounts * Lego’s adorable R2-D2 replica is currently on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for $79.99 ($20 off), matching its lowest price to date. The 1,050-piece set is a nice, decor-worthy homage to everyone’s favorite R2-series astromech droid, complete with a 180-degree swiveling head, an attachable periscope, and a miniature Artoo that’s meant to sit alongside the included info plaque. * If Google’s premium subscriptions don’t scare you off, the third-gen Google Nest Doorbell is down to $139.99 ($40 off) — its second-best price to date — at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The new model supports 2K HDR video, a taller field of view than prior models, and a new sensor with a wider aperture lens for full-color low-light video. The wired video doorbell can also leverage Gemini for AI-generated text descriptions, assuming you’re willing to pay for Google’s Home Premium Advanced plan ($20 a month). * I probably wouldn’t call Twelve South’s 4-foot PowerCord the God Cable we’ve been looking for, but it’s still a good option for charging a range of gadgets now that it’s on sale at Amazon for $14.15 (about $16 off), which is about $3 shy of its lowest price to date. The sleek, low-profile device combines a 30W fast charger with a USB-C cable, allowing you to top off your phone, tablet, and a host of other small electronics without the need for an extra wall adapter.