These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $179; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $399.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the longer-running, tougher option. A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The catch: 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 Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the lighter choice. A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. At 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Bose SoundLink Plus at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus ($179) for a large speaker; the Bose Portable Smart Speaker ($399) suits a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bose Music) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
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