Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks #25 of 82 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $269; the Turtlebox Cub ranks #60, rated 3.0/5, and costs $330, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The SoundLink Plus has boosted, thuddy bass and no EQ adjustment, but plays in stereo from one unit. The Cub has only listening impressions so far: loud for its size, warm and bass-forward, with some bass loss at high volume.
Both are IP67 with a USB-C power bank and stereo pairing. The Cub adds crush resistance and tie-downs.
Battery: close to 20 hours for the SoundLink Plus against 14+ for the Cub.
Weight: 1.5 kg for the SoundLink Plus, 2.4 kg for the Cub.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Cub and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Turtlebox Cub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 | $330.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose SoundLink Plus:
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Vifa Helsinki
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs JBL Xtreme 5
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Brane X
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $269.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $269.
Cons: 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.
Full Bose SoundLink Plus review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Turtlebox Cub: $330.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A compact, cube-shaped Turtlebox at 2.4 kg with a real two-way layout: a 4.5 inch woofer and a 1.3 inch titanium tweeter. Reviewers found it very loud for its size, with warm, bass-forward tuning and a bit more bass than the Turtlebox Ranger. IP67 waterproof and dustproof, crush and drop resistant, stainless steel tie-downs, a claimed 14+ hours from a 49.95Wh battery, USB-C charging with a power bank output, stereo pairing and Party Mode.
Cons: The evidence so far is listening impressions from two reviews, with no measurements or side by side tests against other brands. One reviewer found it loses bass at high volume, and it is not as loud as the full-size Turtlebox. Turtlebox’s claimed 118dB is a figure the brand’s larger speakers have not come close to at a standard one meter distance. It is also mono from one unit, and its recessed USB-C port only fits slim cable plugs.
Full Turtlebox Cub review and specifications →
| Battery Life | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Turtlebox Cub vs Marshall Stockwell III
- Turtlebox Cub vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Turtlebox Cub vs JBL Xtreme 4
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- Turtlebox Cub vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- See all 13 comparisons