Bose Portable Smart Speaker Review: Your Voice Assistant, Unplugged

The portable smart speaker, simply called Bose, is an amazing device. In case you can't imagine, the $399 device offers all the benefits of a quality smart speaker with your choice of Alexa or Google Assistant. It also includes a built-in rechargeable battery that allows you to transport the speaker from room to room without an outlet. Wi-Fi support for smarts is a little tricky on the carrier side, but if you've got the space to pack, Bose's portable smart speaker is fun, albeit pricey.

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Bose's portable smart speakers aren't for everyone. It costs $400 and the built-in battery means you can put it anywhere , and its Google Assistant- or Alexa-based smart features require a Wi-Fi connection. So while it's portable and smart, it's not both. However, if you're on a budget and want a smart speaker to stand freely in your home (and as a great Bluetooth speaker), you won't be disappointed.

Technical characteristics

Dimensions : 7.54" x 4.69" x 4.09".
Weight: 2.34 pounds
Integrations : Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Spotify Connect
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2
Connections: USB-C
List Price: $399
Colours: Tri-Black, Lux-Silver

To use

Full and reliable audio
Attractive design and solid build quality
you can move!

inappropriate

Too expensive
Charging station not included.
Modern features require a Wi-Fi connection

Buy this product

Portable smart speaker from Bose

Bose portable smart speaker: design, hardware and scope of delivery

The Bose portable smart speaker is an eight-inch-tall, four-inch-wide aluminum cylinder with a controller and housing that moves the audio driver up and down. There is a USB-C port on the bottom. Available in black and white.

With narrow holes cut into the speaker's aluminum and weighing just over two kilograms, the portable smart speaker is definitely of high quality. I also appreciate the sturdy fabric-covered handle. This makes it easy to move the speaker around, but it's a handy way to hang the speaker like a chime lamp where you want to listen to music. It's rated IPX4, which means it's splashproof, but you shouldn't try to use it in a pool. I've been using the speaker in light rain for a while and haven't had any problems yet.

The speaker buttons are on the top, protected by a soft layer of silicone. There are buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, mic mute, volume control, and volume. A circular LED strip around the top of the speaker visualizes the sound as you adjust it, which is great. In addition, the LEDs light up when you connect to the voice assistant. I wish there were buttons to skip tracks. The existing controls allow you to skip forward and backward by double or triple pressing the play/pause button. It works well, but the process would be easier with dedicated buttons, and they certainly have a place for them on the speaker.

The portable smart speaker comes with a standard USB-C charger. Bose also sells a stand that you can use to charge the speaker. If you plan on moving the speaker (that is), you will need this mount. The charging station is $29 and I bought it to review. I'm concerned this speaker isn't included because it's so expensive at $399. Bose's savings on accessories appear to be very reasonable.

Bose Portable Smart Speaker: functionality, sound and battery life

What sets the Bose portable smart speaker apart from other speakers is that it's... a portable smart speaker. It can act as a standard Bluetooth speaker, but can also connect to Wi-Fi for control by Google Assistant or Alexa. Anything you can do with your voice with a Nest Audio or Echo speaker, you can do with a Bose portable smart speaker.

You can ask questions, set up smart home devices, control media playback, and all together. You can add the speaker to groups of other Assistant or Alexa speakers to sync audio playback across rooms. Having a multiroom function built into the speaker that I can use outside is a big plus for me.

Unlike headphones and earbuds that use your phone's data connection, the voice assistant feature requires a stable Wi-Fi connection, which may limit the use of a portable smart speaker for some. Too bad you can't use the speaker's full functionality when camping in the woods, but I still like being able to place the speaker anywhere in the house (so you don't need Bluetooth to play music). My small garden is also well covered by a Wi-Fi network so I had no problem using a portable smart speaker for background music without my phone around the fire and while working in the garden.

The Bose portable smart speaker looks great. With the speakers set to their default settings, bass is full and punchy without sounding muffled or weak, and treble is crisp and clear. You can adjust bass and rhythm settings in the Bose Music app; Starting from the default level of 0, each parameter can be adjusted in 10 steps from -100 to +100. I prefer a more traditional five-band EQ, but any setting is better than none, and the way the speaker sounds out of the box is exactly what I want.

A portable smart speaker's audio driver is downward-facing and evenly distributed around the speaker. The thing will be very loud. If the speakers in your home are 50% loud, you need to turn up the volume to hear the music. A loud party can be heard at full volume, but at around 65 percent the sound really starts to distort, with the speaker struggling to produce enough bass to do justice to the mids. Apart from the test, I didn't get past the two-thirds mark.

Bose bills the portable smart speaker at 12 hours of battery life per charge, and in my experience that's probably an accurate number. However, longevity depends on how you use the speaker. For example, Bluetooth playback at a low volume from a nearby source can exceed 12 hours, and a strong Wi-Fi stream quickly drains the battery with an incomplete connection. Charging from zero to 100% with the charger (or optional docking station) takes around five hours.

Bose Portable Smart Speaker: Should You Buy It?

The Bose portable smart speaker is a special gift. If you know what you're getting into and it's within your budget, you'll love this speaker. I definitely am. Being able to place an above-average smart speaker anywhere in my home - even outside - is a dream come true, especially when I want the same music to be played inside and outside at the same time. It's also difficult to decide between Google Assistant and Alexa on the same model.

However, the speaker cannot use your phone's data connection for its smart functions. If you don't have Wi-Fi, it's a standard Bluetooth speaker. The best Bose portable smart speakers are good even without the smart features - whether they're connected to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the sound is good and the design and build quality are excellent. However, if you don't use the capabilities of a portable Wi-Fi smart speaker often, plan on using standard Bluetooth speakers instead.

If you buy...

Your home audio solution can use external amplification and reach your WiFi.
$399 seems reasonable for a high-end smart speaker that can be moved around the house.

If so, don't buy...

If you are not connected to Wi-Fi, you will need the voice assistant feature. In terms of Bluetooth, the portable smart speaker isn't particularly smart.
They put it on the shelf and left it there. Get a regular smart speaker.