Bose SoundLink Plus review: A waterproof, high-fidelity speaker for indoors and out

Compared to other speakers in its size class, and even a few that are bigger, the Bose SoundLink Plus holds its own and often outperforms

Bose SoundLink Plus portable Bluetooth speaker. Pictures: Bose.

The Bose SoundLink Plus boasts a rugged design and sound quality that belies its size, delivering a compelling combination of performance, durability, and everyday usability. Whether you're poolside, camping, or just looking for better audio at home, it’s a speaker that adapts to your lifestyle.

Design and build quality

While the SoundLink Plus has a lot of rugged charm, its design is far from sleek, but it looks and feels solid and is built to last. The steel grille has a cool industrial vibe, complemented by soft-touch silicone that makes it easy to grip and carry. The black colourway I tested may seem a bit plain, but I love its clean, minimalist aesthetic.

The speaker weighs 1.5 kg and measures about 23 cm across, which puts it firmly in the portable category without sacrificing presence. It feels premium in the hand, with rounded edges and clean lines that speak to Bose’s refined approach.

thick, rugged nylon rope loop hangs off the end of the speaker and is actually useful. You could use it to hang the speaker from a tree branch or to clip it onto a backpack, but I found it great for carrying the speaker.

Portability and durability

Built for the outdoors, the SoundLink Plus features an IP67 rating, meaning it’s fully dust-tight and waterproof. You can use it at the beach, by the pool, or in light rain without stress.

Although not featherlight, it’s compact enough to throw in a rucksack, and it feels tough enough to handle drops and scrapes.

Features and connectivity

The SoundLink Plus supports aptX Adaptive for high-resolution audio (if you have a compatible device), Bluetooth 5.4 for stable connections, and multi-point pairing, allowing you to stay connected to two devices simultaneously.

There’s also Google Fast Pair for Android users, and Bose’s own SimpleSync tech lets you pair with other Bose speakers or soundbars for stereo or party mode.

The speaker also features a 15W USB-C charging port, which can quickly charge your phone in a pinch.

Control-wise, the Bose Music app allows you to fine-tune audio with a 3-band EQ (more bands would have been nice), assign the shortcut button functions (such as Spotify), and manage speaker firmware updates. You also get physical buttons on the top of the speaker for volume, pause/play, Bluetooth mode, a shortcut button that you can assign in the app, and a power button.

Battery life

Battery life is decent for a speaker this size, but not class-leading. You can expect up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge, depending on the volume and EQ settings.

A five-minute quick charge gives you around 2.5 hours of playback. That kind of rapid recharge is a lifesaver when you’re rushing out the door.

Sound quality

Bose has packed in a tweeter, a subwoofer and four passive radiators, and the result is remarkable sound for the size.

The bass is deep and responsive, but not overwhelming, while mids and highs are clean and defined. Whether you’re playing laid-back acoustic playlists or bass-heavy EDM tracks, the sound remains balanced and powerful. Bass heads will love this compact speaker, but others may feel the need to turn the bass down a tad.

Thanks to Bose’s Active EQ, the speaker automatically adjusts its sound curve based on volume, maintaining clarity whether you're keeping it low at a dinner gathering or blasting it during a barbecue.

Compared to other speakers in its size class, and even a few that are bigger, it holds its own and often outperforms, particularly in how well it maintains clarity at higher volumes.

Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Plus is a good-sounding speaker. It’s durable, sounds great and is a versatile piece of kit that excels indoors and out. With features like device charging, stereo pairing, app customisation, and IP67 waterproofing, it’s the ideal Bluetooth speaker for music lovers who live life on the go.

€280 Bose.ie