These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Brane X ranks #4 of 117 large speakers by sound quality at $549; the Google Home Max ranks #15 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $399.
The Brane X is the battery-powered, tougher choice. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its battery is rated for 12 hours, while the Google Home Max needs an outlet. It is rated IP57, while the Google Home Max has no water resistance. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Google Home Max lacks. The tradeoff: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
The case for the Google Home Max: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. The catch: Discontinued by Google since 2020, so it can no longer be bought new; used and refurbished stock is what remains, and RTINGS calls its soundstage mediocre despite the driver count.
One note: the Google Home Max is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
Buy the Brane X ($549) for a large speaker; the Google Home Max ($399) suits a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home rankings.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| Brane X | Google Home Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $399 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #4 of 117 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC |
| IP Rating | IP57 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Brane app) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Dimensions | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | 6x Class-D amplifiers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Strap | No | - |
| Inputs | - | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | Yes |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio |
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