The Bose SoundLink Plus is the latest in the manufacturer's eminently portable SoundLink series. Positioned somewhere between the Bose SoundLink Max and the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) in terms of both price and stature, it promises a bass-forward sound in a small package that can be wrapped around your wrist (courtesy of its nylon carrying strap). With an advertised 20 hours of battery life and an IP67 rating, it's well-positioned to be your partner in crime for summer's outdoor activities.
Our Verdict
The Bose SoundLink Plus is an okay choice for music. It offers a mostly balanced sound, though its default frequency response emphasizes high-bass and treble frequencies, pushing basslines and sibilants to the fore. Still, there's a 3-band EQ and presets available via the app, which can help tailor the sound to your preferences. Sadly, you're limited to just mono playback, though there's decent enough directivity to ensure everyone experiences similar audio delivery (barring those at the most acute angles). While the speaker can get quite loud for its size, its dynamics performance is hamstrung by very prominent compression at max volume, which interferes with the clarity of your audio.
Graphic EQ and presets in app.
Portable design with carrying strap.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
Lots of compression at max volume.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is disappointing for videos and movies. It has a relatively balanced sound, with a boosted high-bass capable of rendering cinematic thuds and explosions well, though it lacks low-bass rumble. The treble range is emphasized, too, but this comes at the expense of a slightly recessed mid-range that can push dialogue to the back of the mix. Further caveats come in the form of mono-only playback and considerable compression at max volume, which can cause audio quality to deteriorate at higher listening levels. While latency is decently low with both iOS and Android devices, there's still a chance of some AV sync issues. Still, this speaker gets pretty loud for its size and can fill in for a soundbar in a pinch. Just don't expect fireworks.
Graphic EQ and presets in app.
Downmixes stereo content to mono.
Lots of compression at max volume.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is a very good choice for podcasts. It's very portable, and you can easily fasten its nylon strap to a belt or tie it to your hand, allowing you to bring your favorite podcast dialogue with you. While mid-range reproduction is a little underemphasized compared to other frequencies, you can always boost vocal-centric frequencies via the in-app EQ. It's loud enough to be heard over a running sink if you're listening while doing the dishes, and compression is limited to the bass and treble ranges (which will have little bearing on podcast audio). Mono playback does little to hamper podcast audio, too, and directivity is good enough to ensure clear audio reproduction from most listening angles.
Graphic EQ and presets in app.
Portable design with carrying strap.
Long, almost 20-hour battery life.
Lots of compression at max volume.
The Bose SoundLink Plus lacks a microphone and voice assistant capabilities.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is good for outdoor use. With a durable build, IP67 rating, and just shy of 20 hours of battery life, it's well-suited to expeditions. Just be aware that you'll need to set aside five hours for a recharge. Its sturdy nylon carrying strap makes it a versatile companion if you're hiking and want to fasten it to a belt loop or backpack; plus, you can recharge your other devices via its USB-C port. Its frequency response favors mid and high-bass frequencies, which is great if you want to get people dancing to your favorite EDM tunes. You don't need to worry too much about standing directly in front of the speaker either, as directivity is quite good, but mono-only playback can rob recordings of some width and space.
IP67 rating.
Long, almost 20-hour battery life.
Lots of compression at max volume.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bose SoundLink Plus comes in three color variants: 'Black,' 'Blue Dusk,' and 'Citrus Yellow' (here's a picture of its label). We tested the 'Blue Dusk' variant, but we expect other colors to perform similarly. If you encounter another variant of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Bose SoundLink Plus helps fill the gap between the larger, louder Bose SoundLink Max and the more compact Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen). The SoundLink Max is still the better choice for listening to music—while it shares a very similar frequency response to the SoundLink Plus, it's capable of playing back stereo tracks without downmixing to mono. It can get louder without compressing as much, too, which is great if you plan on cranking the volume. The smaller SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is the most portable of the SoundLink lineup and features a very balanced mid and treble range. Its smaller size does result in reduced battery life, max volume, and bass output, though, so it's better suited to smaller-scale outdoor hangs. For a more resilient yet similarly portable outdoor speaker, you can also look at the JBL Charge 6. This IP68-rated speaker is constructed from very sturdy materials and has a sound performance similar to that of the Bose. Still, its battery life can't hold a candle to the SoundLink Plus's 19-hour battery life.
You can also see our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The Bose SoundLink Plus and the JBL Charge 6 are similarly portable speakers, and either would be a good fit for outdoor use. The JBL edges out the Bose speaker unless your top priority is longer battery life. The JBL is better constructed, has an IP68 rating, and has premium build quality. The two speakers are mono-only and have a similar frequency response that rolls off some bass while keeping the mid and treble ranges smooth. While the Bose can get a tad louder, it compresses much more at max volume. Its nearly 20-hour battery life is impressive but comes with a long, almost 5-hour charge time. Conversely, the JBL clocks in at 13.7 hours, but you won't spend the better part of a day charging it.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is a better portable option than the Bose SoundLink Max, though the latter is a better choice for listening to music. While both speakers feature nylon carrying handles, the Plus is a fair bit lighter and smaller. The two have a very similar frequency response, though the Max has a bit more bass on tap. As the larger speaker, it can get louder without as much compression at max volume. It can also play back stereo content without downmixing to mono, which will be a boon for music lovers. Though the two speakers have a similar build quality, the Plus's longer battery life can make it a better companion for longer expeditions or camping trips, though be wary that it'll need the best part of five hours to charge.
The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is a smaller, more portable option compared to the Bose SoundLink Plus. The two speakers perform similarly when it comes to sound, shaving off some bass but maintaining balanced mid and treble responses. You can adjust their sound profiles via the graphic EQ and presets in the app, though both speakers are limited to mono-only playback. The SoundLink Plus has a longer, almost 20-hour battery life. While the SoundLink Flex's battery life is only a third of this, you're faced with a less daunting 2.4-hour charge time (as opposed to 4.6 with the larger speaker). If you're a voice assistant user, you'll likely favor the SoundLink Flex, though, which can work with compatible voice assistants on your phone and has an excellent microphone.
The Bose SoundLink Plus and the Beats Pill are both very portable speakers but have slightly different strengths. While both speakers have to downmix stereo content to mono, the Bose has a more balanced default frequency response and can get a fair bit louder. The Bose also compresses much more as it approaches max volume. It boasts a much longer battery life, though, as well as graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. While the Beats might be second place in audio playback, it features robust voice assistant support (so long as you have a compatible iOS or Android device).
Test Results
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