Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $179; the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ranks #14 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $279.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the battery-powered, tougher pick. A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build. Its battery is rated for 20 hours, while the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker needs an outlet. It is rated IP67, while the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker has no water resistance. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. Watch for: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
The case for the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker: 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 Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Plus 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.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus at $179 if you want a large speaker. Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker at $279 if you want a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home 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 SoundLink Plus | Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $279.00 each |
| Ranked | #25 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #14 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC power cord |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| 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 |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect |
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