Short answer: the Soundcore Select Pro on price, the Bose SoundLink Max for ruggedness. The SoundLink Max at $279 is IP67 rated, dustproof and waterproof to 1m, but has a big upper-bass peak, a dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above it. The Select Pro at $80 sounds almost exactly like the Motion Boom, with boosted bass and rolled-off treble.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max new; the Soundcore Select Pro is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Select Pro | Bose SoundLink Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 Discontinued | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #17 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Users say it works) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 5.8” x 7.9” (346 x 148 x 200 mm) | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.75” fullrange + 2x 2.5” passive radiators | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 48Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 116ms |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundcore Select Pro:
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Select Pro
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
Soundcore Select Pro: $80 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A tough 1.5kg speaker with IPX7 protection, app EQ, a claimed 16-hour battery life, USB-C charging, power-bank output and PartyCast for linking up to 100 compatible speakers. It reaches a useful 106dB maximum level and offers a lively, bass-forward sound for casual outdoor use.
Cons: Independent lab listening finds only fair music fidelity: bass is somewhat boomy and lacks deep extension, mids can sound nasal and congested, and treble becomes smeared or sizzly. It strains at high volume, lacks an aux input and is discontinued, so it is best chosen for features and durability rather than detail or neutral sound.
Full Soundcore Select Pro review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Users say it works) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 5.8” x 7.9” (346 x 148 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.75” fullrange + 2x 2.5” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: This is shocking! They broke the world pound for pound champ! 😢 More from alanrossreviews →
- Snow Queen’s Tech: ANKER SOUNDCORE SELECT PRO VS MOTION BOOM - DO THEY SOUND THE SAME? SOUND TEST ( PLEASE WEAR 🎧)
- Chowa: Soundcore Select Pro (Review)
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: On a Ledge 🪟 Zealot S67 🆚 Soundcore Select Pro - Bluetooth Speaker Comparison More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Select Pro vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- Soundcore Select Pro vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Soundcore Select Pro vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- See all 38 comparisons
Bose SoundLink Max: $279.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated: dustproof and waterproof to 1m. Up to 20 hour battery; real-world testing found 43+ hours. Deep, rich bass with neutral tuning, app EQ. USB-C doubles as device charger. Sturdy carry handle. The aux input has lower latency (about 33ms) than most Bluetooth connections. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange. Bass not as deep as a Boom 2. Gets distorted above 80%. Self drains the battery about 20% a week.
Full Bose SoundLink Max review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - indoor soundtest More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor soundtest
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Max, the worlds most overpriced speaker? its a shocker! More from alanrossreviews →
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - first impressions
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bose SoundLink Max vs. Ultimate Ears EpicBoom 🤑Big Bucks No Whammies? 💣 Let’s Find Out 😧 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bose SoundLink Max vs Tribit XSound Mega 😲 Can the Budget Priced Speaker Hang With the Big $ One?
- Scott’s Reviews: Bose SoundLink Max First Impressions, Unboxing, and Sound Test. More from ScottsReviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max 100W vs BOSE Soundlink MAX More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Max vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- Bose SoundLink Max vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Loewe We. Hear Pro
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- Bose SoundLink Max vs B&O Beosound A5
- See all 85 comparisons