I swapped my favorite JBL speaker for this new Bose, and it’ll be hard to give it up

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.

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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.

Although the bass is the star of the show, vocals and instruments sound great through the SoundLink Plus, and it gets plenty loud for a small cookout, a picnic, or days on the beach, by the pool, or at the lake. 

Also: I’m taking this portable Sony speaker to the beach this summer. Here’s why

Bose advertises the SoundLink Plus’s portability in conjunction with its IP67 water and dustproof rating, but it is a hefty and dense speaker. It’s a pound and some change lighter than the SoundLink Max, but noticeably heavier than the SoundLink Flex and Micro. As a result, its weight makes it portable enough to bring with you, but only if you plan on setting it down once you get to your destination.

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Still, the speaker’s powder-coated steel grille and silicone casing make it quite sturdy, capable of handling tumbles and drops. I tested the SoundLink Plus in Citrus Yellow, and although the speaker itself handled my clumsiness well, the lighter color is susceptible to scuff marks. 

Also: I recommend this Bose Bluetooth speaker for upcoming summer trips – here’s why

Like its more premium sibling, the SoundLink Plus boasts 20 hours of battery life and floats for easy retrieval if you accidentally drop it in water. It also has reverse USB-C charging capabilities, so if your phone is low on battery, you can use the speaker to charge it. To prevent an accident, the SoundLink Plus will blink amber and white when the speaker is too wet to charge it or your phone.

The SoundLink Plus supports Bluetooth 5.4, which means it has Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, but Bose omitted Bluetooth Auracast. Instead of Auracast, Bose’s SoundLink speakers support a proprietary grouping technology. If you have two SoundLink speakers, you can pair them in Party Mode, where both speakers play the same audio. If you have two SoundLink Plus speakers, you can pair them to each act as a left/right audio channel.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Bose SoundLink Plus<!–> is a stylish midsize Bluetooth speaker with plenty of bass for an energetic summertime vibe, but still offers nice separation for mids and highs. It has all of the rugged features you need for outdoor fun, while offering a uniform design that’s as stylish as it is functional.

If you’re looking for a speaker that can perform as good in your house as it can poolside, the SoundLink Plus won’t disappoint. However, if you want to spend $70 less and still have USB-C reverse charging, eight more hours of battery life, and Bluetooth Auracast, consider the JBL Charge 6–>.

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