Latest news with #BoseSoundLinkPlus
Irish Examiner
31-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Bose SoundLink Plus review: A waterproof, high-fidelity speaker for indoors and out
The Bose SoundLink Plus boasts a rugged design and sound quality that belies its size, delivering a compelling combination of performance, durability, and everyday usability. Whether you're poolside, camping, or just looking for better audio at home, it's a speaker that adapts to your lifestyle. Design and build quality While the SoundLink Plus has a lot of rugged charm, its design is far from sleek, but it looks and feels solid and is built to last. The steel grille has a cool industrial vibe, complemented by soft-touch silicone that makes it easy to grip and carry. The black colourway I tested may seem a bit plain, but I love its clean, minimalist aesthetic. The speaker weighs 1.5 kg and measures about 23 cm across, which puts it firmly in the portable category without sacrificing presence. It feels premium in the hand, with rounded edges and clean lines that speak to Bose's refined approach. thick, rugged nylon rope loop hangs off the end of the speaker and is actually useful. You could use it to hang the speaker from a tree branch or to clip it onto a backpack, but I found it great for carrying the speaker. Portability and durability Built for the outdoors, the SoundLink Plus features an IP67 rating, meaning it's fully dust-tight and waterproof. You can use it at the beach, by the pool, or in light rain without stress. Although not featherlight, it's compact enough to throw in a rucksack, and it feels tough enough to handle drops and scrapes. Features and connectivity The SoundLink Plus supports aptX Adaptive for high-resolution audio (if you have a compatible device), Bluetooth 5.4 for stable connections, and multi-point pairing, allowing you to stay connected to two devices simultaneously. There's also Google Fast Pair for Android users, and Bose's own SimpleSync tech lets you pair with other Bose speakers or soundbars for stereo or party mode. The speaker also features a 15W USB-C charging port, which can quickly charge your phone in a pinch. Control-wise, the Bose Music app allows you to fine-tune audio with a 3-band EQ (more bands would have been nice), assign the shortcut button functions (such as Spotify), and manage speaker firmware updates. You also get physical buttons on the top of the speaker for volume, pause/play, Bluetooth mode, a shortcut button that you can assign in the app, and a power button. Battery life Battery life is decent for a speaker this size, but not class-leading. You can expect up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge, depending on the volume and EQ settings. A five-minute quick charge gives you around 2.5 hours of playback. That kind of rapid recharge is a lifesaver when you're rushing out the door. Sound quality Bose has packed in a tweeter, a subwoofer and four passive radiators, and the result is remarkable sound for the size. The bass is deep and responsive, but not overwhelming, while mids and highs are clean and defined. Whether you're playing laid-back acoustic playlists or bass-heavy EDM tracks, the sound remains balanced and powerful. Bass heads will love this compact speaker, but others may feel the need to turn the bass down a tad. Thanks to Bose's Active EQ, the speaker automatically adjusts its sound curve based on volume, maintaining clarity whether you're keeping it low at a dinner gathering or blasting it during a barbecue. Compared to other speakers in its size class, and even a few that are bigger, it holds its own and often outperforms, particularly in how well it maintains clarity at higher volumes. Verdict The Bose SoundLink Plus is a good-sounding speaker. It's durable, sounds great and is a versatile piece of kit that excels indoors and out. With thoughtful features like device charging, stereo pairing, app customisation, and IP67 waterproofing, it's the ideal Bluetooth speaker for music lovers who live life on the go. €280
CNET
24-07-2025
- CNET
This Is Why Bose's SoundLink Plus Is the Goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth Speakers
8.5 / 10 SCORE Bose SoundLink Plus $269 at Bose $269 at Amazon $269 at B&H Photo-Video Pros Sleek design with integrated rope loop IP67 waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant Impressive sound for its size with fairly robust, well-defined bass and good clarity EQ settings in Bose companion USB-C charge out allows you to power up a phone and other devices Cons While it's $130 less than the SoundLink Max, it's still pricey No built-in microphone for speakerphone capabilities No auxiliary input Bose SoundLink Plus 8.5/10 CNET Score $269 at Bose As Bose continues to expand its SoundLink portable Bluetooth speaker line, it's become harder to choose one because they're all quite good. That said, the new-for-2025 SoundLink Plus ($269), which sits between the more compact second-gen SoundLink Flex ($149) and the beefier and rather pricey SoundLink Max ($399), may just be the best of the bunch, the goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth speakers. While it can't play quite as loud or deliver as much bass as the larger Max, it costs significantly less and puts out clear, potent sound that's a big step up from the Flex's sound. It strikes the right balance of performance and price, earning a CNET Editors' Choice award in the process. Read more: Best Bluetooth speakers of 2025 Weighing 3.3 pounds and measuring 9.1 by 3.9 by 3.4 inches (WHD), it weighs more than twice as much as the Flex and is a couple of inches wider but about the same height. I thought it might also be twice the depth of the Flex, but it's not quite that (3.4 inches compared to the Flex's 2.1 inches). That said, in hand, it feels like a significantly more substantial speaker while being easier to tote around than the 4.7-pound SoundLink Max, even with that model's removable rope handle (the SoundLink Plus has a "rugged utility rope loop" sticking out from its side). Enlarge Image The SoundLink Plus comes in three color options, including this citrus yellow, which is currently only available at David Carnoy/CNET The SoundLink Plus has similar features to the SoundLink Max, offering USB-C in/out charging and up to 20 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. The Max has an auxiliary input while the Plus doesn't. Both are IP67 dust-resistant and waterproof, as are the Flex and new $130 SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen), which is due out in late August and has been upgraded with improved sound and USB-C charging. Unlike the Flex, the SoundLink Plus doesn't have a built-in microphone, so it's missing speakerphone capabilities, which is too bad. The Bose companion app has equalizer settings that allow you to tweak the speaker's sound profile and customize the shortcut button on top of the speaker to either link to a second Bose speaker or create a quick link to Spotify, which allows you to easily resume playback from the service. The back of the speaker. The speaker charges via USB-C and can also charge devices and act as a power bank. David Carnoy/CNET Note that this is a mono speaker and that to get real stereo separation, you would have to link two SoundLink Plus speakers in left/right Stereo Mode (you can also link to other recent SoundLink speakers in Party Mode to augment the sound to cover more space). I tested Stereo Mode with two SoundLink Flex speakers, and the sound improved dramatically. But I only got one SoundLink Plus review sample, so I was unable to test Stereo Mode. However, based on what I've heard from a pair of Flex speakers, I suspect a left/right SoundLink Plus stereo combo would sound quite impressive if you can afford to buy two of these guys. Comparing the SoundLink Plus to the competition I evaluated the SoundLink Plus for a few hours on its own, and it performed well with the majority of test tracks I threw at it, though it really shined with well-recorded material and didn't seem as constrained at higher volumes as some mini Bluetooth speakers I've tested. To avoid distorting, many portable speakers' digital processing ends up clipping some frequencies, especially in the low-end. For the most part, that didn't happen here, and the speaker's sound held up nicely with minimal distortion at higher volumes. However, now and then, I'd encounter a track the speaker just didn't handle all too gracefully, reminding me that it's still pretty compact. After comparing it to the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max, I then pitted it against a few other top Bluetooth speakers, including the JBL Charge 6, Sony ULT 3 and ULT 5 and LG Xboom Bounce. All those speakers except the Sony ULT 5 list for a little less than this Bose (however, the ULT 5 does seem to regularly go on sale for $250). But they'd all be models I'd have on my radar if I were considering the SoundLink Plus. Comparing the SoundLink Plus to other top Bluetooth speakers from JBL, Sony and LG. David Carnoy/CNET Though the differences weren't huge -- they're all good-sounding Bluetooth speakers -- the SoundLink Plus sounds superior to all of those speakers except the ULT 5, which is significantly larger and plays a little louder and produces more bass. Compared to the JBL 6, the SoundLink Plus sounds fuller with a wider soundstage. The same goes for the Sony ULT 3, which doesn't produce as much bass as the Bose, even with its ULT bass boost fully engaged. Faced off against the LG Xboom Bounce, I felt the Bose's tonal balance was a little better, with the Bose having slightly superior treble and midrange performance. You can find better value Bluetooth speakers -- I still like Anker's Soundcore Boom 2, which costs around $120 or slightly less during flash sales -- but the Bose has a little richer, more refined sound with better clarity and a slicker design. Other cost-effective brands like Tribit also have portable speakers that deliver very good bang for the buck. But they can be a little generic looking and don't sound as good as this Bose when comparing models of a similar size. The SoundLink Plus weight 1.4 pounds less than the SoundLink Max and cost $130 less. David Carnoy/CNET Is the Bose SoundLink Plus worth it? Both the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max are very good Bluetooth speakers (I also like the SoundLink Home, but it isn't ruggedized and is primarily designed for indoor use). The highly portable Flex produces bigger sound and more bass than you'd expect for its compact size and is also pretty reasonably priced, particularly when it's sporadically discounted. The SoundLink Max also plays bigger than its size would indicate and competes well against significantly larger Bluetooth boombox-style speakers. On the other hand, both those models have a few strikes against them. The Flex's sound has its limitations -- the speaker can only produce so much bass and volume -- and the SoundLink Max is a little heavy and pricey. The SoundLink Plus isn't cheap at $269, but it splits the difference between the Flex and Max, giving you fuller, richer sound than the Flex while shedding 1.4 pounds from the Max (and $130 off the Max's list price). It may not be the perfect Bluetooth speaker for everybody, but it should hit the sweet spot for a lot of folks, especially when its price dips a bit during flash sales. The SoundLink Plus is IP67 waterproof and dust proof. David Carnoy/CNET Bose SoundLink Plus key specs
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Bose SoundLink Plus Shipping Now In A Fresh Summertime Citrus Yellow Color
The new Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth speaker is now shipping in a summertime Citrus Yellow finish. If you've been thinking about buying a new Bluetooth speaker for taking out into the yard or using in an RV or summer house, there's never been a better time to make that purchase. JBL recently launched its new Charge 6 and Flip 7 speakers and now Bose has revealed a new midrange Bluetooth speaker. The new Bose SoundLink Plus is available in Black and Blue Dusk colors, plus an all-new 'summertime' theme called Citrus Yellow, which is actually more of a fetching primrose yellow. This week I managed to get my hands on one of the new speakers so here's a quick explainer with a bit more about what this new speaker has to offer. Built For Life Announced alongside the baby Bose SoundLink Micro, this new mid-sized SoundLink Plus sits neatly between Bose's SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max models. Although the SoundLink Plus is billed as 'portable,' it's a fairly chunky speaker with a real hefty feel about it. It has the usual level of Bose build quality and should be able to shrug off a little rough handling. Equipped with the latest version of Bluetooth, the SoundLink Plus supports Multipoint connectivity so that two Bluetooth devices can be paired with the speaker at the same time and you can easily switch between them. The speaker also supports SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive codecs. Anyone with a suitably-specced Android phone that supports for Snapdragon Sound will be able to stream hi-res music to the speaker. The Bose SoundLink Plus neatly between the Bose SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max models. Big Bass Response The overall size of the SoundLink Plus means it's big enough to produce a larger bass response but small enough to take to the beach. However, it's no lightweight so it might be better stuffed in a backpack, duffle bag or beach tote instead of being carried using the built in finger loop. The Bose SoundLink Plus is fitted with a single subwoofer to produce bass frequencies, plus there's a single tweeter for defining the upper end of the sound spectrum. To fill out the rest of the audio landscape there are four passive radiators which underpin the whole soundstage. When it comes to withstanding a bit of punishment, the SoundLink Plus has an IP67 waterproof rating that should ensure it can stand up to the kind of conditions that a speaker might encounter when used outside. Ranged across the top of the SoundLink Plus there is a strip of soft-touch controls for turning the speaker on and off, initiating Bluetooth pairing, syncing with other Bose speakers, as well as playing and pausing music, skipping tracks and adjusting volume levels. There's also a shortcut button that can be programmed using the Bose smartphone app which includes an adjustable three-band equalizer. Bose SoundLink Plus has soft-touch controls ranged across its top. Floating On Water Thanks to its IP67 rating, the Bose SoundLink Plus can float on water should it somehow end up being thrown into the pool. And when it's had enough of swimming, it can be hooked out using the utility nylon rope loop on the speaker's side. The loop doesn't come off so although it looks tough enough, there doesn't seem to be a way to replace it but it could be useful for hanging the speaker from the brand of a tree or a tent pole. The front-facing metal grille of the SoundLink Plus is finished with a rustproof powder-coating that matches the color of the speaker. The rest of the speaker is covered in a layer of silicone material that feels soft to the touch and should be sufficiently durable to resist knocks. A full charge of the speaker's built-in lithium battery can provide up to 20 hours of continuous playtime. The battery is large and its USB-C charging port is a bi-directional so if your smartphone is running out of juice, you can simply plug it into the SoundLink Plus and receive a welcome recharge. The Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth portable speaker is available in Black and Blue Dusk colorways. There's also a new summertime Citrus Yellow version available. Shipping starts from June 26 and the SoundLink Plus is priced at $269 / £249 / €269.
Gizmodo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Bose SoundLink Plus Review: The Grass-Type Pokémon of Portable Bluetooth Speakers
There are lots of different types of speakers out there for lots of different kinds of people. You've got rugged speakers for the outdoorsmen and doomsday preppers; you've got little speakers for anyone that needs to travel light; you've got party speakers for anyone that needs to annoy the ever-loving-shit out of their neighbors. And, of course, you have your regular old portable Bluetooth speakers for your everyday carry—sorry for the loaded terminology, pun intended. It's hard to stand out in a field as saturated as Bluetooth speakers, and it's questionable that you'd even want to, but sometimes just a little bit of flair goes a long way, and I can think of one speaker company that knows that. Bose recently unveiled its SoundLink Plus portable Bluetooth speaker, and while the category may not be the most exciting thing in the world, there's still a lot to love about a lightweight speaker with great sound that looks more summery than the condensation on a beer bottle in a Corona ad. Based on my testing, that's exactly what the SoundLink Plus is. Let's start with what's new about Bose's newest Bluetooth speaker. First, there's the price range—the SoundLink Plus falls between the SoundLink Flex and the SoundLink Max at $269, which makes it more expensive than most comparable JBL speakers, but in this case, you get what you pay for (more on that later). Bose SoundLink Plus Bose's outdoor-focused SoundLink Plus is a pricey speaker but it's got great sound and comes in a very nice citrus yellow. Pros Cons Also new is a citrus yellow color, which—sorry, audiophiles—really steals the show. This color is everything. The minute I see it, my mind melts into a far-off place as though you boiled down a Jimmy Buffett song into a concentrated sludge and then mainlined it into my veins like that nightmare drug from Robocop. It's soothing, it's tropical, it's… citrus yellow. Your mileage on the enjoyment of citrus yellow may vary, obviously—colors are subjective—but I can say from experience that I pulled out this speaker in front of a few of my friends, and some literally squealed with delight. I'm proclaiming this speaker the grass-type Pokémon of Bluetooth speakers, and there's nothing you can do to convince me otherwise. The only thing nicer than the color is the way the speaker feels in your hands, though. It's made from a 'powder-coated' steel grille and a 'soft-touch silicone,' according to Bose, which helps give it a strong water-resistance rating of IP67, damn near waterproof and dustproof. Beyond that, though, it just feels so freaking nice in your hands—soft and smooth. Every time I pick this thing up, I fondle it for a bit and then force my friends to fondle it, too. They think I'm some kind of pervert for telling them to feel up my Bluetooth speaker, but the consensus is, 'Damn, that feels nice.' And the battery? Also nice. Bose estimates that you'll get about 20 hours max out of the SoundLink Plus, but that obviously depends on the volume you're listening at. I'm inclined, after a couple of weeks' worth of use, to agree with that estimate, though it also depends on whether you're using the speaker to top off your phone's battery. One perk is that the SoundLink Plus also doubles as a huge, USB-C battery bank, which doesn't exactly help my Lightning-clad iPhone 13, but will charge up Android phones and iPhone 15s or newer. Bose put 'portable' in the official name for this thing, claiming that it's compact enough to fit comfortably in a backpack or a duffel bag, but you never really know until you try for yourself. I'm happy to report that I fully agree with that assessment. I threw this thing in my backpack and brought it to a park a couple of miles from my apartment and even carried it around the city after work, and I can't say I ever felt like I was buckling under the enormous weight of Bluetooth audio. In case you were wondering, the speaker is nine inches wide and weighs 3.29 pounds. But don't let the size fool you; the sound is formidable. The SoundLink Plus has a subwoofer, a tweeter, and four passive radiators, which may not mean much on the surface, but I can verify that all of those together equal some serious volume. You're not going to rattle the walls of your house or anything, but it should be more than enough for outdoor parties or even going to the crowded-as-f*ck New York beach and competing with your loud-as-f*ck neighbors. I think beyond the volume, though, what I was most impressed with is Bose's audio tuning. Prior to using the SoundLink Plus, I'd been using a similar-sized Bluetooth speaker from JBL (the Charge 5), and the difference is very clear. If you've been using a cheaper Bluetooth speaker and you upgrade to Bose, like I have in this case, I'm going to assume that you'll also hear the difference—I wasn't the only one who did. Anecdotally, when I brought the SoundLink Plus into the bathroom while my partner was in the shower, she mistook it for me cranking the volume on the multi-speaker sound system in my living room—not just because of the clarity, but because the bass was also formidable. Nearly $300 is a lot to pay for a speaker that you're most likely not going to be using all the time in your apartment or house, but I'm of the opinion that the Bose name still means something when it comes to audio quality after using the SoundLink Plus. If there's one knock I will give the SoundLink Plus, it's that sometimes the default tuning can be a little too bass-y for my taste, but that can also be easily adjusted via the Bose app, to get the EQ to your liking. That won't be a perk for everyone, but I can get a little finicky about my tuning, so if you're picky like me, you'll be happy to know that you have some freedom here—especially nice to know after you've spent $270 on a portable Bluetooth speaker. And yes, to reiterate, $270 is a lot of money to spend on an outdoor-focused Bluetooth speaker (at least for most people), but in this case, you really do get what you pay for—a nice-sounding speaker in a great color that you can fondle until your fingers' content. If you're comfortable enough financially to pay the Bose premium or just feel like splurging, I think the SoundLink Plus is worth its weight in citrus-yellow gold.
The Verge
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Bose SoundLink Plus review: here's your new beach speaker
I've been testing the $269 Bose SoundLink Plus, which is the company's latest portable Bluetooth speaker. It's durable, attractive, and designed to join you wherever you go, thanks to solid construction and an IP67 rating. You can toss it in a small backpack or clip it to the outside of one for easy transport to the beach or around town. However, at $269, the Plus falls into a no man's land of Bluetooth speakers. It's more expensive than similarly sized competitors, including the JBL Charge 6, Sony ULT Field 3, and Sonos Roam 2, which all cost $200 or less. The Plus is also about $100 cheaper than slightly larger options with more expansive features, like stereo speakers, Wi-Fi, or smart assistant integration. What it does, it does very well, but there's little that makes it stand out from the pack. 7 Verge Score The SoundLink Plus is a mono speaker with a tweeter, four passive radiators, and a rear-facing subwoofer, which is expected for its price. It can be linked with another Plus to create a stereo pair or connected with other current-gen Bose Bluetooth speakers for Party Mode, where all speakers play the same signal. Only a single Plus was sent for testing, so I didn't get a chance to test Party Mode (or Stereo Mode, for that matter). The SoundLink Plus is approximately the same size as a 20-oz water bottle and falls between the SoundLink Max and SoundLink Flex (second-generation). But the size belies how impressively loud it can get. It provides a good amount of low-end thump, and the overall tuning delivers clear vocals with a crisp high end. The bass line during the verse and chorus of Billie Eilish's 'bad guy' has nice tone and definition, although the Plus gets challenged a bit in the bridge, and instead of the bass hits feeling bigger, they are a little compressed. Throughout, though, the finger snaps and synth are clear and ride on top of the cruising bass. At mid-to-high volume levels indoors, the upper frequencies can get fatiguing, which I find is generally the case with Bose products. This is particularly true with high hats or metallic-sounding effects, as can be found in 'Super Bon Bon' by Soul Coughing. Those frequencies can be tamed a bit by the EQ if needed. And when the Plus gets really loud — around 80 percent and up — some distortion creeps in. The Plus is wrapped in a silicone coating and has a powder-coated steel grille that matches the available Black, Blue Dusk, or Citrus Yellow finishes. The silicone is durable, smooth, and resistant to getting marked up if dropped, but I was constantly wiping off the lint, dust, and pet hair that it attracted as I moved it around my apartment and outside. Thankfully, it's easy to clean. The buttons along the top provide a satisfying click when pressed. There are light indicators next to the power, Bluetooth, and shortcut buttons. The shortcut button can be assigned to either link two Bose Bluetooth speakers together or open Spotify. Apart from turning the speaker on, however, I rarely used the touch controls. The speaker doesn't provide a way to advance tracks — just a play / pause button — and the Bose app is relatively bare bones. You can select a source, change the three-band EQ (or select one of four presets), assign the shortcut button, and adjust the volume. It was easier to stay in my music streaming app and control the volume with my iPhone. The speaker has an IP67 rating, which means it can withstand submersion up to three feet for 30 minutes, making it safe to use around the pool or at the beach. I filled up the tub and tossed it in. The Plus floats, although face down, so you can't hear it while it's floating. After being submerged, the power button light will blink white and orange, indicating that the speaker's USB-C port can't be used until it's dry. It lacks connected audio options that many competitors include, such as the Beats Pill and even other Bose portable speakers like the SoundLink Home (both of which are less expensive). It supports multipoint connection, allowing two Bluetooth devices to be connected simultaneously, but it lacks Wi-Fi, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay support. It's Bluetooth or bust. The SoundLink Plus is rated for up to 20 hours of playback time, which seems to be accurate based on my time with the speaker at moderate volumes so far. The Plus can also be used as a 15W power bank, via its USB-C port, for phones and other devices, which will obviously reduce the playback time. I was able to charge my iPhone 15 Pro by 10 percent in a little under an hour. That's slow, so I guess it's only useful in a pinch. It also takes five hours to charge the speaker, so you'll want to plug it in the night before a beach day. The SoundLink Plus is a solid, durable, and great-sounding Bluetooth speaker that fills the gap between the Max and the Flex in Bose's lineup. However, when considering its features in relation to its price, which is higher than that of comparable portable speakers, it becomes a less compelling prospect. If you're a fan of the Bose sound and are looking for a beach or pool companion for the summer, the Plus is for you. And even if you're not a Bose fan, the Plus is worth considering, but you should probably wait for a sale.
