Bose SoundLink Plus review: a beefy portable speaker with class

Building a great portable Bluetooth speaker isn't as simple as it can seem – people's expectations have started to creep higher and higher in recent years, as brands have added new features and conveniences to their devices. Now, it's a genuine challenge to stand out from the crowd.

Bose has the brand-name recognition that many rivals crave, but can't just rest on those laurels. Its SoundLink Plus speaker is a really competent new offering that might be perfect for those looking to take a speaker with them on rough-and-tumble outings. Is it good enough for everyday life, though?

Price & Availability

You can now pick up the SoundLink Plus speaker now, after it launched earlier this summer – and it comes in at $269 / £249 / AU$429. That's quite a chunky price for a small speaker, but it's admittedly a very capable device.

Bose seems to be betting on people valuing quality and sound over the asking price, and it'll be interesting to see how the SoundLink line fares in the next year or more. The more expensive SoundLink Max is another option for those looking to step up to an even more powerful speaker.

Design & Features

It's a little too easy to describe the SoundLink Plus as a smaller version of the SoundLink Max, but that doesn't stop the description from feeling accurate. Much of Bose's design language from that bigger speaker has been preserved here, but with a smaller body and a change to the carrying handle.

So, the SoundLink Plus comes in as a fairly standard-looking speaker – with a grille steel cover on the front side that you can fairly easily see the drivers through. Above this is the Bose logo, and the whole front is subtly curved with a smooth matte finish.

Atop the body of the speaker are some refreshingly reliable buttons – recessed in a way that might make you think they're going to be touch-sensitive, but in fact hiding nice, clicky mechanisms. These let you turn it on and off, play/pause, change volumes and initiate pairing and sound mode swaps.

These buttons are part of a soft rubber surface that coats the outside of most of the speaker, other than that front grille. It's extremely satisfying to the touch, and presumably dampens impacts to help with durability. That said, it's a bit of a dust and hair magnet.

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That doesn't matter much, though, because an IP rating of IP67 means it's completely impervious to dust and water, up to being submerged for 30 minutes at a time. Well, technically to a metre, rather than sharing life with the Titanic.

The bottom of the speaker has a raised foot for stability, while the back has another speaker grille and the USB-C charging port exposed. Finally, on the right side of SoundLink Plus, you'll find the fabric weave loop that makes it easy to carry. It's big enough to slip a couple of fingers through, but can also be paired with a carabiner or another sort of fastening to clip onto a bag or hook.

The speaker feels extremely sturdy and well-built, but part of that comes down to its weight. At 1.45kg, there's no escaping the fact that it's heavy for its size, so you should bear that in mind if you're looking for something truly hassle-free. Something smaller, like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, would be substantially lighter.

In terms of features, the SoundLink Plus comes loaded with Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility, which means it's futureproof where connectivity is concerned. It also supports the SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs, and has two-point multipoint connectivity for convenience in connecing to two devices at once.

The battery life has a stated maximum of 20 hours, but it's worth noting that this can be heavily impacted if you go loud on volume. I typically ended up getting a little over 10 hours from a charge, which isn't all that exemplary. The speaker can also charge your phone from its USB-C slot, which is a nice little bonus.

Sound & Performance

Bose's brand is synonymous with reliability when it comes to sound quality, and that's a pretty good association to boast. Still, that sort of reputation doesn't always mean guaranteed success with a new device.

Thankfully, I've found the SoundLink Plus to live up to the Bose name, and its sound performance is arguably the biggest reason why the brand has been able to slap what is quite an aggressive price tag on the speaker. It's a great fit for small gatherings, whether outdoors or not, and has the power to fill rooms impressively.

It's got that trademark Bose balance – performing really ably across all genres, and making sure not to overdo any one part of the frequency register. So, you can expect detail in the mids and highs, but a really good amount of oomph in the lows, too, with bass response proving very solid.

It can get really, really loud when you want it to, although you will have to accept that the battery will drain faster as a result. I tested it across new(ish) albums by Lorde and Jamie XX and found it bumped along really nicely, while the dancier direction of Tame Impala's End of Summer also bopped.

Bose SoundLink Plus review: Verdict

There's only really one big thing stopping me from being unequivocal in my praise for the SoundLink Plus, which is the chunky price that Bose has attached to it. It's never been a brand for the budget-minded, but I think its RRP is pushing it a little for this all-weather speaker.

Don't get me wrong, the specs are great and its sound lives up to expectations, but the problem comes when you start to tally up alternatives – and they're all a good chunk more affordable. However, if you're a big fan of its aesthetics, the SoundLink Plus will almost certainly please you – as it's a great little speaker.

Also consider

JBL's Charge 5 is an easy recommendation in a very similar vein – it has superb features that pretty much match the SoundLink Plus, but can be had for less than half the price. You could even upgrade to the Charge 5 Wi-Fi for some additional connection options and still save money.

If you have a Sonos system of any description, meanwhile, the Roam 2 is a slightly smaller and more portable pick that excels. It plays so nice with your multiroom audio, but can also be a great standalone pick – although it won't fill a room to the same extent as the SoundLink Plus.