Big Sound in a Stylish Package

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There’s a new speaker joining Bose‘s SoundLink family. The SoundLink Plus, announced earlier this month and available now, sits between the compact Flex speaker and the larger SoundLink Max speaker. With summer heating up, the SoundLink Plus is a well-timed release, even in the very crowded world of Bluetooth speakers.

There are three colors to choose from: black, blue dusk, and the clear winner of the trio, as far as summer is concerned, citrus yellow.

Bose SoundLink Plus: Design and Features

At just over three pounds, the SoundLink Plus isn’t exactly svelte, but it’s a great option for the pool, beach, or backyard picnics. The rugged, silicone-covered speaker was clearly designed with the outdoors in mind, thanks to its IP67 rating, which protects it from dust and water. And if you’re the type who’s never far from the water, you’ll also appreciate the fact that the SoundLink Plus floats. There’s also a handy carrying loop to easily tote it around.

The top of the speaker has buttons for power, Bluetooth, volume, and playback, as well as a multifunction button that can be used to pair the speaker to another. It supports either Party Mode, with each speaker playing the same signal, or Stereo Mode, splitting the two speakers into a left and right channel.

Bose SoundLink Plus: Sound and Performance

As expected, the speaker gets plenty loud. It doesn’t sound harsh at higher volumes, and the speaker features a subwoofer, tweeter, and four passive radiators. It’s Bose, so you can expect a good thump from the bass, but the Bose app lets you play with the EQ.

The speaker has Bluetooth 5.4, but there are no auxiliary connections, unlike older Soundlink speakers. The speaker features a USB-C port for charging and boasts a respectable 20 hours of battery life. It also functions as a portable charger, charging devices such as smartphones. The speaker itself takes a leisurely five hours to charge, so you’ll probably want to plug it in the day before a big outing.

However, unlike speakers from brands like Ultimate Ears and Marshall, the SoundLink Plus isn’t a 360-degree speaker, so placement matters — it’ll sound somewhat muffled if you’re behind or next to the speaker.

That said, the sound quality is sufficiently clear and detailed that it’ll do just as well at a picnic as it will as an around-the-house speaker, and support for AAC and AptX Adaptive squeezes as much out of your audio as possible.

Bose SoundLink Plus: Verdict

Bose’s SoundLink Plus has a lot going for it, from its robust audio performance to its stylish look. Its place between the SoundLink Max and Flex speakers makes it a happy medium for anyone looking for a powerful but portable speaker, and its ability to be paired with other (compatible) Bose speakers is a nice touch. With up to 20 hours of battery life and a rugged IP67 build, it will be able to handle whatever kind of beach day you throw at it. 

That said, the $269 price may be a tough pill to swallow, particularly given that the speaker doesn’t offer any other connections besides Bluetooth. Its slow charging time may be a drawback for some as well. 

Ultimately, if you’re looking for the ideal pool or park companion that can also carry a tune as an at-home speaker, Bose’s SoundLink Plus packs a punch.