Bose SoundLink Plus review: great sound and design, but not for the price
This $269 speaker does a lot of things right, but there are better values on the market
š Rating: 3.5/5
ā
Pros
š Compact design thatās plenty portable
š Citrus Yellow is a delightful finish
š Good sound quality that gets loud
š 20-hour battery life
šŖØ Shock and rust resistant
ā Cons
š Other speakers have better stereo sound
šļø No mics for phone calls
š° Price is $70 higher than the competition
The Shortcut review
If youāre in the market for a Bluetooth speaker at a reasonable price, you may come across the Bose SoundLink Plus. The latest mid-range speaker in Boseās lineup, the SoundLink Plus aims to be a sweet spot between the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max to provide a portable package with good audio quality, battery life, and durability. The result is a speaker that does all of this quite well.
Iāve been using the Bose SoundLink Plus for about a week and a half, and itās among the best Bluetooth speakers Iāve used for under $300. Iām impressed with the audio quality and how loud it gets, I like the compact design, and the new Citrus Yellow finish is perfect for summertime (or any time when you need a splash of color). However, at $269, the SoundLink Plus isnāt the best value; while everything is generally good here, you pay a premium for the Bose brand, which results in its competitors being as good or even better for less money.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is a solid Bluetooth speaker that can deliver a great listening experience for your entire July 4th barbecue, but if you want to save a few dollars, there are some easy ways to do it.
Full review
š Cool, compact, and easy to control. Bose kept things simple with the design of the SoundLink Plus. It looks just like the SoundLink Flex but slightly bigger, which is to say: what youād probably think a Bluetooth speaker looks like. Thereās a piece of nylon rope on the side to make it easy to carry around, and itās less than a foot long and about four inches tall, making it easy to store in your bag. All of its controls can be found on the top, protected by flexible silicone, making it easy to manage playback and Bluetooth connections without your phone. Thereās also a USB-C port on the back for charging.
š Get the yellow one. Bose sent me the Citrus Yellow version of the SoundLink Plus for review, and between the three available color choices, this is the one to get. The Blue Dusk looks sharp in its own right, while the Black version is the least interesting. Citrus Yellow pops in any room or setting you have it in, and itās by far the best-looking of the lineup. Plus, itās fitting for its June release date.
š§ Adventure-ready. Bose includes an IP67 rating on the SoundLink Plus, which means itās safe against dirt and drops into a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Bose says the speaker will even float in case you drop it, which is a nice touch. In addition, the speaker is shock and rust resistant, which makes it ideal for taking with you just about anywhere.
š Loud sound. Inside, Bose packs in a subwoofer, a tweeter, and four passive radiators to deliver ābest-in-classā sound quality. In my testing, my first impression was just how loud the SoundLink Plus can get. I was impressed with the volume coming from such a compact speaker. I took it to the beach to blast classic yacht rock, and once it was at 50% volume, it was enough for my entire party to hear no matter where they sat in the sand. Any louder and Iād be disturbing our neighbors, although Iām not sure thatās possible when youāre playing āBrandy (Youāre a Fine Girl)ā by Looking Glass.
šļø Plenty of bass. The SoundLink Plus also delivers on bass. If youāre a hip-hop head or enjoy your rock tracks with deep low-end, this speaker will give you what youāre looking for. It isnāt in the same ballpark as a Beats speaker, where bass is the focal point, but itās prominent enough for casual listeners who like a little thump when theyāre listening to music.
š Not quite as full. One thing I noticed about the speaker is its somewhat empty presence. While sound quality is generally good, the soundstage is much tighter than other speakers Iāve tested in this price range, which means you have to rely on volume for everyone to hear your jams. Other speakers like the Sony Ult Field 3 do a much better job at stereo separation, allowing for a fuller sound that feels more grandios than what the SoundLink Plus can kick out.
šļø Solid EQ, plus some extras. The Bose companion app offers an EQ to tune the SoundLink Plus to how youād like, and it can make a difference if you want to control things like treble and bass. It isnāt the most robust EQ Iāve seen, but it gets the job done. The app also gives you access to features like multi-device connections and Shortcuts for pressing a button to switch between devices or controlling Spotify. The interface is simple and easy to use, and there isnāt a ton of extra fluff loaded in that you wonāt use.
šļø Missing mics. One thing you canāt do with the SoundLink Plus is take phone calls or use your phoneās virtual assistant. Thatās because Bose didnāt include any microphones on the speaker, unlike many speakers in this price range. Itās fine if you donāt typically take phone calls or yell at Siri with your Bluetooth speaker, but for those who do, youāre out of luck.
š Solid battery life. Bose says the SoundLink Plus can last up to 20 hours on a full charge. In my testing, I was able to get around 14-15 hours of battery life on a charge, which is pretty good. Youāll need to play it at a lower volume and keep your phone close by in order to get longer battery life, but overall, it delivers long-enough endurance to last for the entire duration of your next get-together.
š° The price isnāt the best. At $269, the Bose SoundLink Plus offers a decent experience, but itās not the best you can get. Other speakers like the JBL Charge 6 and Sony Ult Field 3 are cheaper and come with most of the same features. The Ult Field 3 in particular is a much better alternative; not only is the sound quality better and can fill a room more easily, but it also has longer 24-hour battery life, microphones for phone calls. and a strap for better portability. Of course, Bose loyalists may not care about these options, but itās important to consider if you want the most value for your money.
Should you buy the Bose SoundLink Plus?
Yes, ifā¦
ā You want a nice-looking speaker in a vibrant color
ā You want good sound quality
ā You want multi-device connectivity
ā You need increased durability
No, ifā¦
ā You want the most bang for your buck (get the Sony Ult Field 3)
ā You take phone calls with your speaker (get the Sony Ult Field 3)
ā You want longer battery life (get the JBL Charge 6)
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. Heās been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.