Bose SoundLink Plus Review | 130 Data compared

The Bose SoundLink Plus is a durable portable speaker featuring an IP67 rating, a shockproof finish, and the ability to float, making it ideal for rugged or poolside environments. It delivers a 20-hour battery life, which can charge other devices via USB-C, alongside modern Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Adaptive connectivity. While highly functional, the speaker faces limitations with a slow five-hour recharge time and significantly reduced battery longevity when operated at maximum volume.

The Bose SoundLink Plus acts as a durable, mid-sized portable speaker with an IP67 rating, 20-hour battery life, and Bluetooth 5.4, offering a "Goldilocks" option between the Flex and Max models. While featuring rugged, floating design and slow USB-C pass-through charging for devices, the speaker suffers from a slow five-hour recharge time and cannot play audio while submerged in water.

The PCMag UK review rates the Bose SoundLink Plus as an excellent, durable, and stylish portable speaker featuring an IP67 rating, Bluetooth 5.4, and the ability to charge external devices. While it delivers crisp, detailed audio, the speaker lacks a microphone and offers limited sub-bass performance. Notable drawbacks include a slow five-hour recharge time and a very basic companion app, with additional insights available in the review.

The SoundGuys review of the Bose SoundLink Plus highlights a 20-hour, 55-minute battery life, an IP67 rating, high treble clarity, and aptX Adaptive support for Android users. However, the speaker features a recessed mid-range, limited 3-band EQ, noticeable treble harshness/bass rollback over 75% volume, and lacks wired USB-C audio, making its premium price difficult to justify.

According to the RTINGS.com review, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a portable, rugged IP67-rated Bluetooth speaker offering a 19-to-20-hour battery life and customizable sound via a graphic EQ app. Pros include high volume capacity, excellent dialogue reproduction for podcasts, and low latency, while cons include a lack of low-bass, considerable audio compression at max volume, and mono-only playback.

What Hi-Fi? awarded the Bose SoundLink Plus 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as a durable, "Bluetooth brick" with 5-star, IP67-rated build quality and a punchy, entertaining sound. While praised for its portability and rugged design, the speaker faces criticism for its limited 3-star feature set—lacking a microphone and USB-C audio—and falls short of competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 in volume and fine dynamics.

According to the T3 review, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a highly competent, award-winning all-weather Bluetooth speaker, offering exceptional, booming sound for its size and an excellent integrated nylon carrying loop. While praised for its durability, the speaker is notably heavy, making it burdensome for long trips, and carries a high price point compared to competitors.

The Bose SoundLink Plus is recognized by CNET as a high-performance Bluetooth speaker that serves as a "Goldilocks" model between the Flex and Max, offering a durable IP67 design with 20-hour battery life, app EQ, and USB-C charging for external devices. While winning an Editors' Choice award, the speaker is constrained by a $269 price point, its mono-only sound output, and the lack of a built-in microphone for speakerphone functionality.

According to WIRED's 8/10 review, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a stylish, IP67-rated midsize Bluetooth speaker delivering weighty, detailed sound with robust bass. While praised for its design, replaceable battery, and features like Google Fast Pair and USB-C charging, the speaker is limited by merely adequate battery life, slow charging speeds, treble that can sound steely, and a lack of auxiliary input.

PCMag rates the Bose SoundLink Plus as an "Excellent" (4.0/5) portable Bluetooth speaker featuring a durable, premium design with IP67 waterproofing and an impressive 20-hour battery life. While offering strong audio performance for its size, the speaker is limited by a thin bass response, slow, five-hour charging times, and an app with minimal EQ customization. Additionally, it lacks a microphone for speakerphone use and delivers mono sound that can become cluttered in complex tracks.

The PCMag review characterizes the Bose SoundLink Plus as a highly rugged, IP67-rated portable speaker offering 20-hour battery life, excellent codec support, and strong, clear audio performance. While lauded for its design and durability, the speaker is criticized for lacking deep bass, having a heavy build, lacking a speakerphone, and experiencing slow five-hour recharge times.