Summer is nearly here, which means it’s almost time to bust out those Bluetooth speakers and hit the beach. Whether you’re an audiophile or a casual listener, Bose’s SoundLink lineup has always been a dependable choice, and the label has just expanded it with the SoundLink Max, a bigger, beefier, and party-ready Bluetooth speaker that takes the spot as the label’s biggest (and most expensive) portable speaker available.
Bigger Size with More Battery
Bose has been a major player in the Bluetooth speaker space for some time now (since 2011, to be exact), and with this release, the label is essentially beefing up its SoundLink Flex speaker, and equipping it with a convenient little carrying handle to maintain portability while increasing the size so “you can take the party anywhere you are.” You’re also getting up to 20 hours of battery life here compared to the SoundLink Flex’s 12 hours, nearly doubling the listening time, which is a nice touch. We’ll get deeper into the specs below, but it would’ve been nice to see some sort of fast charging feature for a speaker at this price point ($399), especially since speakers for half the price like JBL’s Charge 5 ($180) have it.
What’s Inside?
The SoundLink Max is equipped with three transducers and two passive radiators, giving you clarity and “deep bass that hits your core,” along with Snapdragon Sound for improved connectivity with Android devices, and AptX Adaptive codec support for high-quality wireless listening. It’s also IP67-rated, which means you don’t have to worry about water or dust ruining the party (Bose is very much trying to position this thing as its portable party speaker), and you can use the USB-C charging port to keep your phone charged while out and about. The aux input is also a nice touch if you want more ways to listen (especially since many modern Bluetooth speakers are doing away with this entirely), and there’s a customizable button you can assign to the aux input or Spotify Tap. Again, the speaker gives you up to 20 hours of listening time and charges in 5 hours, using Bluetooth 5.3 with a 30-foot range.
The Specs
Sound Options: Shielded Speakers, SimpleSync, Full Range Speakers
Size: 4.73″ H x 10.42″ W x 4.13″ D (4.700 lb)
Resistance: IP67
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Charge Time: 5 hours
Range: 30ft
Charging Interface: USB-C In/Out
Pricing and Availability
The Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker will be available for $399 on May 16th in Black and Blue Dusk (making it the most expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from Bose alongside the Portable Smart Speaker). Pre-orders are live now at Bose’s website, and shipping is slated to begin on May 16th.
Recap
Bose SoundLink Max
Taking the spot as Bose’s biggest (and most expensive) portable Bluetooth speaker, the SoundLink Max is built to bring the party anywhere, bolstered by a carrying handle and 20 hours of listening time.
