This Is Why Bose’s SoundLink Plus Is the Goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth Speakers

As Bose continues to expand its SoundLink portable Bluetooth speaker line, it’s become harder to choose which is best for you. That said, the new-for-2025 SoundLink Plus ($269, £250, AU$430), which sits between the more compact second-gen SoundLink Flex ($149, £150, AU$250) and the beefier and pricier SoundLink Max ($399, £400, AU$600), 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 (in width, height and depth), it’s more than twice as heavy as the Flex and 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, it feels like a significantly more substantial speaker in the hand 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).

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.

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 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 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.

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, such as Tribit, also have portable speakers that sound great for the price. But they can be generic-looking and don’t sound as good as this Bose when comparing models of a similar size. 

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. 

Bose SoundLink Plus key specs

• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 9.1×3.9×3.4 inches
• Battery life: 20 hours (moderate volume level)
• Bluetooth 5.4 (30-foot range)
• IP67 waterproof and dustproof
• 5 hours to fully charge via USB-C (no charger included)
• USB-C charge out
• Bose SimpleSync technology for pairing the speaker with compatible Bose smart soundbars or speakers via the Bose app
• Pair two SoundLink Plus speakers for stereo sound or link with other compatible SoundLink speakers in Party Mode for augmented sound
• EQ settings in the Bose app
• Color options: blue, black and yellow
• Price: $269