Short answer: the Brane X for better sound quality, the Bose SoundLink Plus for the lower price. The Brane X ranks #4 of 115 large speakers, rated 4.6/5, at $549. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25, rated 4.2/5, at $179, $370 cheaper.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the longer-running, lighter 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 Brane X. At 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) it weighs much less than the Brane X at 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg). 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 Brane X is the better-sounding pick. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The catch: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Brane X if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM 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 | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Brane app) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP57 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 31Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 200W |
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