Every Speaker Reviewed by Cnet

Last updated: October 11, 2026

Cnet is ranked #23 of 49 in the speaker-review source reliability ranking. The ranking weighs measurement quality, repeatability, useful comparisons, disclosure, and editorial independence; it is an assessment of the work used for speaker decisions, not a claim about personal character.

Reliability assessment: Their picks range from excellent to mediocre. You do see a few good ones mentioned like the Mini 3, Stormbox Micro 2, JBL Partybox 110 and Boom 2, but the rest of the picks are all over the place.

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Every speaker on this site Cnet has reviewed, highest-rated first, with a direct link to each review below its card.

Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III ranking card

Pros: Four drivers and two opposing passive radiators give fuller, deeper bass than the Bose Soundlink Mini 2. Two drivers per side play left and right channels. Up to 14 hours of battery. Wraparound metal grille and sealed silicone buttons hold up to daily handling. Has a 3.5mm aux input.

Cons: No water or dust resistance. No app, EQ, speakerphone or multi speaker pairing. Charges through a proprietary AC adapter rather than USB. Bose boosts the upper bass, so voices can sound thick. Discontinued, so only used or renewed units remain.

ReleasedFeb 2014 (12 years ago)
AppNo
Aux InputYes
Battery Life14 hours (Manufacturer specified)
BluetoothYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Built-in MicrophoneNo
Dimensions10.1” x 5.3” x 1.9” (256 x 135 x 48 mm)
Drivers4x neodymium full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators
EQNo
IP RatingNone
Party ModeNo
Power BankNo
Power InputAC Power brick
StereoYes
TWSNo
Weight3 lbs (1.37 kg)