Bose SoundLink Plus

Elegant and rugged Bluetooth speaker with rich sound

In a nutshell

Bose has given the SoundLink Plus its signature silky-warm sound with deep, authoritative bass, wrapped it in a robust housing that shrugs off the elements, and finished it with an elegant design. The compact dimensions are surprising, as is the more than ample output that allows the SoundLink Plus to fill even larger rooms with ease.

Pros:

Sound quality
Multipoint connectivity
Design
Power bank function

Cons:

Only a three-band EQ
Slightly unwieldy form factor

Bose has found room between the SoundLink Max and the SoundLink Flex for the SoundLink Plus — a rugged, long-lasting companion that, despite its still-compact form factor, delivers impressively powerful sound with deep bass and plenty of all-round appeal.

Bose SoundLink Plus – Hardware
Functions & Operation
Sound Quality
Verdict

Bose SoundLink Plus – Hardware

Inside the plastic-free box, you’ll find the SoundLink Plus and a short USB-C cable — no power adapter is included. Measuring 23.1 × 10 × 8.6cm and weighing 1.5kg, it’s a solid little brick. It’s not the most comfortable to hold, but the rope-style side strap (colour-matched to the housing in black, dusk blue, or lemon yellow) is practical for carrying with two fingers.

The body is mostly covered in soft-touch silicone, with a powder-coated steel grille at the front. The power button and all controls sit on top. They’re not illuminated, but they’re tactile enough to operate by feel in the dark.

Bose doesn’t disclose the driver configuration, but an exploded view shows two separate drivers — one likely a tweeter.

On the rear, the bass reflex port houses the unprotected USB-C charging socket, which also works as a power bank output. Rated IP67, the SoundLink Plus is fully protected against dust, rain, water jets, and even submersion in fresh water. Bose also claims it resists shocks, rust, dirt, and sand. Battery life is rated at 20 hours — not class-leading, but enough for a day or night of music, even off-grid.

Functions & Operation

With Bluetooth 5.4, the SoundLink Plus is up-to-date. In addition to SBC and AAC, it supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive — available to Android users with “Snapdragon Sound”-certified devices. Bose quotes a modest 9m range, but in clear line of sight, it comfortably reaches over 30m. Multipoint pairing for two devices at once is supported.

Two SoundLink Plus units can be paired for true stereo or used in Party Mode to cover two spaces. Bose’s SimpleSync technology also allows pairing with compatible Bose soundbars.

Bose Smart Soundbar

Smart Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and AI Support.

To the Review

Playback, volume, and Bluetooth pairing can be controlled directly on the speaker, and an additional shortcut button can either trigger TWS pairing or launch Spotify (configurable in the Bose app).

The Bose Music app also offers:

Three-band EQ with four presets
Multipoint source management
Sleep timer
Firmware updates
Option to disable voice prompts

Sound Quality

The SoundLink Plus delivers the classic Bose profile: warm and smooth, with generous, punchy bass that wraps around the mids and highs. DSP processing is clearly at work, but the result is full, detailed, and well-balanced, with clear treble and good stereo imaging. It holds its composure up to near maximum volume.

Minimalist electronic music, pop, jazz, and rock all sound pleasing. Occasionally, the bass can dominate the midrange, creating a slight murkiness, but this can be tamed using the three-band EQ. The SoundLink Plus impresses with its ability to fill larger rooms despite its compact size, and it also shines at lower listening levels, with DSP maintaining a satisfying bass presence.

Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Plus is a well-built, robust speaker equally at home at a party, on a hike, or in a stylish office. With 20 hours of battery life and IP67 protection, it’s ready for the outdoors, while the design and finish make it a good fit indoors. The sound is rich, full, and enjoyable, with a bass response that belies its size. At €280, it’s priced as a premium compact Bluetooth speaker — but it delivers a premium experience in return.