The Bose Portable Smart Speaker stands out in a crowded market of smart speakers by offering an impressive combination of portability, sound quality, and smart features. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into its design, performance, smart capabilities, battery life, and overall value. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of whether this speaker is the right choice for your needs.
Design and Build Quality
Award-Winning Design
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker boasts an award-winning design, having clinched both the Red Dot and iF Design awards. This recognition is a testament to its ability to seamlessly blend aesthetics with functionality. The speaker features a sleek, cylindrical shape that not only looks modern but also enhances its acoustic performance by providing 360-degree sound dispersion.
Portability and Durability
One of the key selling points of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is its portability. Weighing just over 2 pounds, it is incredibly lightweight, making it easy to carry around using the built-in handle. This feature is particularly useful for those who like to move their speaker from room to room or take it on the go.
Despite its lightweight design, the speaker is built to withstand the rigors of everyday use. It has a durable construction and an IPX4 water-resistant rating, which means it can handle splashes, sprays, and even light rain. This makes it a suitable companion for outdoor activities, whether you’re by the pool, at a picnic, or on a camping trip.
Sound Quality
360-Degree Sound
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is designed to deliver 360-degree sound, ensuring that music is evenly distributed throughout the room. This is achieved through its cylindrical shape, which houses multiple drivers that project sound in all directions. Whether you’re standing right next to it or across the room, you can expect a consistent and immersive audio experience.
Deep, Clear, and Powerful Bass
Out-of-the-box, the sound profile of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is fairly boomy, with an emphasis on bass. This makes it a great choice for genres like hip-hop, EDM, and pop, where deep bass lines are prominent. However, the speaker’s companion app offers bass and treble sliders, allowing you to fine-tune the sound to your liking. This level of customization is a welcome feature for audiophiles who prefer a more balanced sound profile.
Volume and Loudness
While the Bose Portable Smart Speaker excels in sound quality, it falls short in terms of loudness. It doesn’t get as loud as some other portable speakers on the market, which might be a drawback for those looking to use it in larger or noisier environments. However, for most home settings and moderate outdoor use, its volume should be more than adequate.
Smart Features and Voice Assistant Capabilities
Built-In Alexa and Google Assistant
One of the standout features of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is its integration with both Alexa and Google Assistant. These built-in voice assistants allow you to control the speaker using voice commands, making it incredibly convenient to play music, check the weather, set reminders, and more, all hands-free.
Exceptional Voice Recognition
The speaker’s microphones are highly sensitive and capable of picking up your voice commands even from a distance or in a noisy room. This ensures that you can interact with the speaker without having to be right next to it, which is particularly useful when you’re busy with other tasks around the house.
Multi-Room Audio Compatibility
As part of the Bose Smart Home Family, this speaker can be paired with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars for a multi-room listening experience. This feature allows you to play synchronized music throughout your home, creating a cohesive audio environment that can be controlled from a single device.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker offers both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. When within Wi-Fi range, you can use voice commands to control the speaker and access streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Pandora. Outside of Wi-Fi range, it functions as a portable Bluetooth speaker, allowing you to stream audio from your mobile phone or tablet. This dual connectivity ensures that you have uninterrupted access to your favorite music, no matter where you are.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery Life Expectations
One area where the Bose Portable Smart Speaker could see improvement is its battery life. While the official specs claim up to 12 hours of playback, real-world usage tends to yield around five hours, especially at higher volumes. This discrepancy can be a limitation for those who intend to use the speaker for extended periods without access to a power source.
Charging Options
The speaker charges via a USB-C port, which is a modern and convenient option. Additionally, Bose offers a charging cradle (sold separately) that provides a dedicated spot for the speaker to rest and charge when not in use. This accessory can enhance the overall user experience by making it easier to keep the speaker powered and ready to go.
User Experience and Companion App
Bose Music App
The Bose Music app is an integral part of the user experience, providing an intuitive interface for controlling the speaker and customizing its settings. Through the app, you can adjust the bass and treble levels, switch between different sound modes, and manage multi-room audio setups. The app also offers firmware updates, ensuring that your speaker stays up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.
Ease of Setup
Setting up the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a straightforward process, thanks to the step-by-step guidance provided by the Bose Music app. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the app walks you through the setup of your preferred voice assistant and helps you link your music streaming accounts. This user-friendly setup process ensures that even those who are not tech-savvy can get the speaker up and running with minimal hassle.
Hands-Free Calling
With Alexa, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker allows you to make and take calls to other Bose smart products, Amazon Echo devices, and anyone in your contacts list. This hands-free calling feature adds an extra layer of convenience, enabling you to stay connected without needing to reach for your phone.
Value and Competitiveness
Price Point
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is positioned at the higher end of the price spectrum for portable speakers. However, its combination of sound quality, smart features, and design justifies the premium price tag for many users. It offers a level of versatility and performance that is hard to match, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality portable speaker.
Comparisons with Competitors
When compared to other portable smart speakers on the market, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker holds its own in several key areas. Its 360-degree sound, deep bass, and voice assistant capabilities make it a strong contender. However, it faces stiff competition from the likes of the Sonos Move and the JBL Charge 4, both of which offer similar features and might appeal to different user preferences.
The Sonos Move, for instance, offers superior battery life and integration with the Sonos ecosystem, making it a better choice for those already invested in Sonos products. On the other hand, the JBL Charge 4 boasts impressive durability and a lower price point, which might attract budget-conscious buyers.
Recommendations
Ideal Use Cases
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is an excellent choice for those who value high-quality sound and smart features in a portable package. Its sleek design and durable construction make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering, working in the garden, or relaxing by the pool, this speaker delivers a rich and immersive audio experience.
Potential Improvements
While the Bose Portable Smart Speaker excels in many areas, there are a few aspects that could be improved. Enhancing the battery life would make it more appealing for extended outdoor use. Additionally, increasing its maximum volume could broaden its appeal to those who need a speaker capable of filling larger spaces with sound.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a versatile and high-performing speaker that lives up to the Bose reputation for quality. Its combination of 360-degree sound, powerful bass, and smart features make it a standout choice in the portable speaker market. Despite its relatively short battery life and moderate volume, its overall performance and user-friendly features make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a premium portable speaker.
Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is designed to meet your audio needs with style and sophistication. Its ability to function as both a portable Bluetooth speaker and a smart home speaker adds a layer of versatility that few competitors can match. For anyone in the market for a portable smart speaker, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is certainly worth considering.
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