Bose Portable Bluetooth Speaker, SoundLink Plus

The SoundLink Plus pairs a portable design with an IP67 dust- and waterproof rating, giving you a speaker built for music outside the house as well as at home. Bose describes its sound as bold, resonant, and bass-forward, and you can adjust bass, midrange, and treble in the Bose app. A carrying loop makes it easier to grab on the way out, while the listed battery life reaches up to 20 hours. That’s a useful combination for a backyard get-together or a day when you’d rather bring one speaker than rely on a phone’s built-in audio.

How to use it

Pack it in a backpack or gym bag, then use the carrying loop when you want it close at hand. For example, set it beside a picnic table and adjust the sound in the app if you want less bass or a different balance for the group. The app also shows battery status, lets you set shortcuts, and helps manage synced devices. Want to keep a cell phone powered while music plays? The speaker’s USB-C port supports charge-out, though the product details don’t state how quickly it charges another device.

It can also work as part of a two-speaker setup: pair two SoundLink Plus speakers, or connect to another compatible Bose portable speaker. Stereo Mode separates the sound between sources, Party Mode plays the same audio on both. Without having tried it, the feature list suggests flexibility for a solo outing or a shared listening spot, but it doesn’t tell us how loud or balanced the sound will feel in a particular space.

Pros

• IP67-rated dust and water protection, plus stated shock and rust resistance, suits outdoor use better than a speaker intended only for a desk or shelf.
• Up to 20 hours of battery life gives you room for a longer outing, although actual runtime isn’t guaranteed to match the maximum.
• App controls for bass, midrange, and treble let you shape the sound rather than accept one fixed tuning.
• USB-C charge-out and the option to pair speakers add practical functions beyond playback.

One limitation: a full charge is listed at approximately 5 hours, so this isn’t a quick top-up if you discover the battery is low just before heading out. Exact dimensions aren’t provided here, either, which matters if you need it to fit a particular bag pocket.

Spec sheet

• Name: Bose SoundLink Plus
• Type: Portable Bluetooth speaker
• Color: Black
• Battery life: Up to 20 hours
• Full charge time: Approximately 5 hours
• Protection: IP67 dust- and waterproof, also described as shock and rust resistant
• Charging: USB-C charge-out
• App features: Battery check, shortcuts, device management, and bass, midrange, and treble adjustment
• Speaker pairing: Two SoundLink Plus speakers or another compatible Bose portable speaker, Stereo Mode and Party Mode

When it makes sense

You’ll appreciate it if you want a portable speaker for outdoor hangs and value water and dust protection, adjustable sound, and the option to share playback across paired speakers. Compared with a basic personal speaker, its app controls and pairing modes give you more ways to set up group listening. Better avoided if you need exact bag-fit dimensions before buying, or if a fast recharge matters more than a battery rated for up to 20 hours. For casual outdoor listening with a phone nearby, the charge-out port and carrying loop are useful extras, for a demanding sound setup, the supplied details don’t establish performance in a large or noisy space.