ZDNET's key takeaways The Bose SoundLink Plus is available in Black, Blue Dusk, and Citrus Yellow for $269.
For its relatively small size, this speaker offers big bass, great sound, and plenty of features for outdoor adventures.
You can find speakers with similar audio output and even more software features for less money. View now at Bose
I test plenty of Bluetooth speakers, and one common misconception I hear is that they're all the same. As a result, I get really giddy explaining how that's not true. After all, a summertime hiker or biker may not get the most out of the same speaker used by a "lie by the pool and tan" kind of person.
Also: The best Bluetooth speakers of 2025: Sonos, JBL, Bose, and more
For a few months, the JBL Charge 6 was the waterproof speaker with the loudness and bass I needed for my lazy outdoor activities. I love the sound and portability, but one thing it was missing was the muted and uniform style that matches my vibe.
If you're a summertime lounger like me, trying to get some color and enjoy a cookout while attempting to keep the bugs and seasonal allergies at bay, Bose's new SoundLink Plus speaker might be up your alley. I used it for two weeks as the vessel for my summer soundtrack while pretending that, instead of being in the Georgia heat, I was on a private island. Here's how it went.
To begin, the SoundLink Plus is a new Bose product, becoming the second-most premium speaker in the company's SoundLink lineup. It's not as sophisticated as the SoundLink Max, but has a longer battery life than the SoundLink Flex (2nd gen).
Bose fitted the SoundLink Plus with one subwoofer, one tweeter, and four passive radiators. Passive radiators use extra air within the speaker system to help the system produce deeper frequencies. In short, the SoundLink Plus absolutely booms with bass.
When placing the SoundLink Plus on my desk and playing Majid Jordan's "Superstar", I could slightly feel the speaker's bass vibrate through my desk at low volumes and no added bass EQ. Songs with groovy basslines Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with the bass boosted, can get a party going; the bass booms, rumbles, and is noticeable, even in an outdoor setting.
... continue reading