Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 140 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Bose Soundlink Mini ranks #59 and costs $109.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus offers: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same. Watch for: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common.
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Mini and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus is rated for 20 hours, the Bose Soundlink Mini only 10 hours.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the Bose Soundlink Mini, which has no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus | Bose Soundlink Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $109.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #21 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #59 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | - |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| Output Power | 24W | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Proprietary connector |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. Identical driver, tuning, and sound to the Thunderbox Plus and the newer Maxsound Plus V2.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the V2.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: All Tribit Speakers Compared - Maxsound Plus, Stormbox, Xsound Go, Maxboom More from alanrossreviews →
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Maxsound Plus v1 vs V2 - upgraded Maxsound Plus tested! 🏅
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Bose Soundlink Mini: $109.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
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