These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ranks #14 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $279; the JBL Authentics 300 ranks #46 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $299.95.
What the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker does well: A compact smart speaker with an up firing driver for taller sound, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and an aux input. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Authentics 300 lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS lists sub-par directivity as its main weakness, and reviewers agree a single unit sounds narrow from side to side, so it works best as a stereo pair.
The JBL Authentics 300 is the battery-powered choice. A retro styled smart speaker with both Alexa and Google Assistant, a leather handle and battery power. Its battery is rated for 8 hours, while the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker needs an outlet. The catch: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others.
Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker at $279 for a powered desktop speaker, or the JBL Authentics 300 at $299.95 for a boombox speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | JBL Authentics 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 each | $299.95 |
| Ranked | #14 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #46 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Bose) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 45Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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