Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bose SoundLink Max: Which Bose speaker should you buy?

The Bose SoundLink Plus rounds out the company’s portable Bluetooth speaker lineup, offering many of the same features as its larger sibling, the SoundLink Max, but in a more compact design. If you’re torn between these two premium outdoor Bluetooth speakers, this Bose SoundLink Plus vs SoundLink Max review breaks down the key differences to help you decide which one to buy.

What’s it like to use the Bose SoundLink Plus compared to the Bose SoundLink Max?

Using the Bose SoundLink Plus feels familiar if you’ve used other speakers in the SoundLink lineup. It has a metal grille, a rubberized silicone exterior, a fixed carrying loop, and a top-mounted control strip that’s easy to operate. It’s rated IP67, so it’s dustproof, waterproof, and even floats if dropped in water. Bose also says it’s shock-proof, which means it can (hopefully) handle a few drops without breaking. The size is just right, not too small, not too large, and it lands somewhere close to the JBL Charge 6, so it can fit into a backpack with no problem. The back of the speaker houses a USB-C port that handles charging in and 15W charging out for your phone, though it doesn’t support USB-C audio. Inside, it’s a mono speaker with one tweeter, one woofer, and an unusual setup of four passive radiators.

The Bose SoundLink Max is noticeably heavier and a bit more powerful; you can tell as soon as you pick it up. At just over 2kg, it’s not something you’ll want to carry in one hand for long, but the included rope handle helps. The speaker sports the same durable build, with a soft silicone wrap and protective metal grilles covering the drivers and passive radiators. Like the Plus, it’s also IP67-rated, but its open ports on the back could be a concern in sandy conditions. The USB-C port works for both charging your phone and charging the speaker itself, and there’s also a 3.5mm aux input for wired listening. Up top, you’ll find the same recessed controls as the Plus, though none of them are backlit, which makes nighttime adjustments tricky. Bose also includes twist-lock mounting points for swapping the handle with an optional shoulder strap, a thoughtful touch for a speaker this weight.

How do you control the Bose SoundLink Plus and Bose SoundLink Max?

The Bose SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max offer an identical control layout. Below is a breakdown of how the physical buttons operate:

Bose SoundLink Plus Controls:

Bose SoundLink Max Controls:

Does the Bose SoundLink Plus or the Bose SoundLink Max have more features?

The Bose app is lean, offering an almost identical feature set for both the SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max. You get a minimal 3-band EQ to tweak the sound, and you can assign the shortcut button to either Spotify Tap or Speaker Link to easily pair a second Bose speaker. Casual listeners can easily skip the app, but you’ll need it to access features like multipoint connection if you want to switch seamlessly between your phone and computer.

How do the Bose SoundLink Plus and Bose SoundLink Max connect?

There are plenty of similarities here. The Bose SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max connect over Bluetooth 5.4, supporting multipoint pairing, Google Fast Pair, and the SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs. If you use a Snapdragon Sound-certified Android device, it will automatically switch to aptX Adaptive for improved audio quality and lower latency. While the Plus is limited to wireless playback, the Max adds more flexibility with a 3.5mm aux input.

Is battery life better on the Bose SoundLink Plus or Bose SoundLink Max?

Despite their differences in size, the SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max both advertise 20 hours of playback off a single charge.

In our testing, the Bose SoundLink Plus lasted 20 hours and 55 minutes of playback at a steady 80dB volume, lining up well with Bose’s claim of up to 20 hours on a single charge, not bad at all. By comparison, the JBL Charge 6 promised up to 24 hours but came up short, clocking in at just over 13 hours.

Our SoundLink Max battery testing is ongoing; check back soon for official results!

Does the Bose SoundLink Plus sound better than the Bose SoundLink Max?

When it comes to sound quality, both speakers offer slightly boosted bass and treble, but there are a few key differences between the SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max to remember.

The SoundLink Plus is a mono speaker with a single woofer and tweeter, supported by four passive radiators to help enhance bass response. The SoundLink Max steps things up with true stereo playback, using two midrange drivers, a tweeter, and dual passive radiators. While the Max can play a bit louder and deliver more output than the Plus, Bose does not publish wattage specs, leaving you, me, and other reviewers without hard numbers to compare.

The SoundLink Plus delivers solid output and reasonable bass for its size, making it an excellent pick for medium-sized gatherings of around 10 to 12 people, indoors or out. The Max can go a little louder, but the difference is not dramatic. Bass remains similar in strength, relative to its larger footprint, and is better suited for groups of 15 to 20 or more. Still, even with its stereo setup, the compact build limits how much width and instrument separation you actually hear, especially from a distance.

Overall, both the SoundLink Plus and Max sound excellent, and you can tweak their performance slightly using the built-in 3-band EQ. In the end, your decision will likely come down to budget and how portable you need your speaker to be.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of both speakers was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

When we ran both speakers through our standardized MDAQS testing, the SoundLink Plus came out ahead overall, earning a 3.3 compared to the SoundLink Max’s 2.7. Both speakers scored equally on immersiveness, but the Plus pulled ahead on timbre and distortion performance, especially at high volumes. While louder in raw output, the Max struggled more with distortion, which brought down its overall rating.

Should you get the Bose SoundLink Plus or Bose SoundLink Max?

If you want something that’s easier to toss in a bag and still sounds great, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a solid pick. It’s compact, lasts nearly 21 hours on a charge, and has all the core features most people need, like multipoint Bluetooth and an outdoor-ready build. As long as you’re okay sticking to wireless playback, the Plus covers all the bases for everyday use, indoors or out, without feeling like a compromise.

That said, if you want louder output, deeper bass, and more ways to listen, the SoundLink Max is the better choice. It’s definitely bulkier and heavier, but you get those extras like a 3.5mm input and stereo playback. Just keep in mind it also costs quite a bit more than the Plus. If you’re cool with the price jump and don’t need something super portable, the Max provides that extra performance and flexibility.

What should you get instead of the Bose SoundLink Plus and Bose SoundLink Max?

If the premium price tag of the SoundLink Plus and SoundLink Max makes you flinch, consider the more affordable JBL Charge 6. It delivers similar output and bass response to the SoundLink Plus, but at a much lower price of $199. You still get excellent build quality with an IP68, drop-resistant rating, USB-C charge-out, and even more customizable sound thanks to its 7-band EQ in the JBL Portable app. Snag one for$199.95 at Amazon.

Keeping things affordable but more in line with the SoundLink Max, the Soundcore Boom 2 is also worth a look. This budget-friendly speaker offers a whopping 80W of output and stereo playback, plus a floatable design and built-in party lights on its passive radiators. If you’re looking to get the party started on a budget, the Boom 2 is up to the task. Find one for $89.99 at Amazon.