I tested Bose's new smart speaker beside my Sonos Era 100 - it was better in several ways

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker 4.5 / 5 Very good pros and cons Pros Great sound

Native Android and iOS casting

Sleek, modern design Cons Pricier than some competitors

Favors Bose's in-house spatial audio over Atmos View now at Bose

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The latest from Bose is the Lifestyle Ultra family, which includes a soundbar, a subwoofer, and a smart speaker, and I find the smart speaker to be the most interesting product in the lineup. Smart speakers for the home are increasing in popularity, and more consumers are interested in whole-home audio products with smart home features -- Bose is right on time.

Also: Sonos Play review: This portable Wi-Fi speaker may be Sonos' greatest hit yet

I spent a week with the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker, and though it's $50 to $100+ more than its counterparts from Apple, Sonos, and Amazon, it has one considerable boost over the rest. Let's dive in.

Out with the old, in with the new

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is the smartest speaker in Bose's current catalog, promising Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth connectivity, AirPlay and Google Cast compatibility, Alexa built-in, and stereo pairing, wrapped in a sleek, modern design.

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