We’ve only just started to see the first wireless speakers that are designed to easily transition from whole-home Wi-Fi component to go-anywhere, battery-powered Bluetooth nomad, but Bose has already laid claim to this turf with its $399 Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It’s light, has a built-in handle, and can deal with the elements and the occasional bump or tumble. It’s even a full-fledged smart speaker. But does it have the kind of sound quality and convenience we’ve come to expect of the Bose brand? Here’s our full review. Editor’s note: Bose changed the name of this speaker from Bose Portable Home Speaker to Bose Portable Smart Speaker in December 2020 and increased the price from $349 to $399 in September 2021. We have adjusted this review accordingly. Let’s be honest. You’re never going to hear amazing sound out of a speaker that’s small enough to fit in your purse. Size matters when it comes to sound quality, so the challenge when creating a portable speaker is to make it small e...
Very portable; High sensitivity mics; Great 360-degree sound; Alexa and Google Assistant; AirPlay 2;
Limited app features; Missing some midrange; Not ideal for Android;