Bose SoundLink III Review | 130 Data compared

The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor with improved sound quality, increased volume, and superior 14-hour battery life in a robust, redesigned chassis. However, the $299.95 speaker lacks speakerphone functionality, relies on a proprietary AC adapter rather than Micro-USB, and requires purchasing protective covers separately.

The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III is lauded as a top-tier portable speaker for its size, offering a warm, accurate, and powerful sound with enhanced bass. Key strengths include a 14-hour battery life and durable design, while drawbacks include the lack of speakerphone functionality, dedicated track controls, or USB charging. Additionally, the sound profile, while robust, lacks the sharp treble definition favored by some listeners.

The Tom's Guide review highlights the Bose SoundLink III as a durable, portable speaker offering powerful, clear audio with an improved 14-hour battery life. Key advantages include its protective, dust-resistant silicone button panel and the ability to pair with up to six devices. However, the speaker lacks a built-in speakerphone, track controls, and USB charging capabilities, limiting its overall functionality.

The Bose SoundLink III Bluetooth Wireless Speaker is a sturdier upgrade with a refreshed design, improved battery, and capacity to remember six devices for faster pairing. Pros include a dust-resistant design and the removal of the previous model's, clumsy, integrated flap stand. However, cons feature an unresponsive power button requiring a firm, precise press and a lack of NFC, notes the HardwareZone review.

The Bose SoundLink III, as reviewed by What Hi-Fi?, features a premium, robust aluminum chassis and provides powerful, room-filling sound with significant, energetic bass. However, the review notes that the, often overpowering, bass sacrifices precision and clarity in complex tracks, while the unit lacks USB charging, aptX support, and requires a firm button press.

The iLounge review for the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III highlights it as a capable portable speaker offering strong bass performance, clean Bluetooth streaming, and high volume levels suitable for varied environments. However, the analysis identifies significant cons, including a relatively weak treble that reduces audio crispness and a, at times, artificially pushed midrange. Despite these factors, the unit acts as a solid competitor to rivals like the Braven 850 HD, although its high price and lack of packed-in accessories affect its overall value proposition.

The Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III offers a powerful, warm, and accurate sound with enhanced bass and improved battery life, but its design is considered underwhelming, lacking crisp high frequencies and utilizing a proprietary charger rather than USB. Despite the pedestrian aesthetics and reliance on a dedicated power adapter, the speaker delivers high-volume performance without distortion.

The SoundGuys review of the Bose SoundLink 3 identifies the portable Bluetooth speaker as a durable, high-performance unit offering an improved 14-hour battery life, robust construction, and high-volume sound with minimal distortion. While offering solid, dirt-resistant build quality and versatile input options, the device is criticized for its heavy, less-portable design, generic aesthetic, and a metal grille that can appear cheap.

The 9to5Mac review of the 2014 Bose SoundLink III ($299) highlights its enhanced audio performance, powered by four drivers and two passive radiators that deliver impressive clarity and 14-hour battery life. While praised for its sound quality and ability to remember six Bluetooth devices, the unit's increased 3-pound weight and larger footprint significantly compromise its portability compared to smaller alternatives.

The TechHive review highlights the Bose SoundLink III as a compact, travel-friendly Bluetooth speaker delivering powerful, "big" audio from a slim design, boasting an impressive 14-hour battery life and the ability to pair with up to six devices. However, the speaker lacks advanced features found in competitors, including NFC pairing, a companion app for EQ adjustments, and the ability to pair with a second unit, while its processed sound signature may polarize some listeners.