Bose may be best known for its noise-cancelling headphones, but the company also makes solid portable Bluetooth speakers. In fact, the company’s SoundLink Flex made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers and was among the contenders in its price range. Today, the company expands the SoundLink lineup with its largest portable Bluetooth speaker yet: the SoundLink Max ($399). While the overall design is similar to previous Bose devices, this model offers better sound and longer battery life in this expanded framework.
Inside the SoundLink Max, Bose says three transducers and two passive radiators create “a spacious stereo experience” that includes bass performance that sounds like an even bigger speaker. The company says this portable device takes technologies typically used in its soundbars and combines them with digital signal processing to reduce distortion and achieve “full, natural sound” across all genres. Bose promises that you’ll be able to hear every aspect of a song clearly, regardless of the music style and regardless of the speaker’s location. You can also adjust the lows, mids and highs via the Bose app if the default tuning doesn’t suit your preferences.
Bose chose a powder-coated, silicone-wrapped steel casing for the SoundLink Max, which the company says offers a more premium look. The speaker is also IP67 certified, so dust, water, rust, and drops shouldn’t be a problem. This makes the Max well suited for outdoor use, and if you take it with you on the go, you don’t have to worry about frequent charging. Bose says the SoundLink Max lasts up to 20 hours and can charge your phone via a USB-C cable when needed. A removable rope handle makes it easy to transport, but Bose also makes a carrying strap if you prefer shoulder carry.
The SoundLink Max features Snapdragon Sound, which offers more consistent connectivity with current Android devices, and aptX Adaptive, which offers improved audio quality over Bluetooth. The speaker also supports Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth 5.3.
Pre-orders for the SoundLink Max begin today from Bose, and the speaker is scheduled to ship on May 16th. Not only is it the company’s largest portable Bluetooth device, but it’s also the most expensive, with the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at $399. If you’re looking for something smaller, SoundLink Micro ($99), SoundLink Flex ($119), and SoundLink Mini II ($149) are also available from Bose.