Bose SoundLink Max

6 expert reviews#4 of 10 Bluetooth speakers
Bose SoundLink MaxImage: Bose
4/6critics
recommend
Best big portable sound

Critics’ consensus

6 professional reviewers tested the Bose SoundLink Max, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and battery life. Most common complaint: call quality.

Reviewed by Trusted Reviews, What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar and 3 more

The catch: It is heavy, expensive and slow to charge.

Critics split Scores run from 70 to 100All 6 scores printed by the outlets
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What do critics say about the Bose SoundLink Max?

Trusted Reviews100

A stellar premium portable speaker with rich, detailed, fun sound that the reviewer rates as the best portable heard in years.

Hands-on review · 2024 · Read
What Hi-Fi?95

Lively, energetic and enjoyable to listen to, with a rugged, easy-to-use design.

The outlet's top rating · counted as 95 · Hands-on review · 2024 · Read
TechRadar90

A punchy, party-ready Bluetooth speaker that sounds great indoors and out.

Hands-on review · 2024 · Read
WIRED90

A big, bold, rugged Bluetooth speaker with powerful, controlled sound and good battery life.

Hands-on review · Read
TechGearLab73

A mini-boombox with balanced, loud, clear sound that is tough and offers excellent battery life.

Hands-on review · 2026 · Read
The Verge70

The speaker sounds excellent thanks to Bose's processing, but at about 400 dollars it lacks smart features and Wi-Fi and faces cheaper or louder rivals.

Hands-on review · 2024 · Read

Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Sound quality6 of 6
Battery life2 of 6
Design2 of 6

What critics dislike most

Call quality3 of 6
Price3 of 6
Fit and comfort2 of 6
Alternatives

Not sure about the Bose SoundLink Max?

Common questions

Is the Bose SoundLink Max worth it?

Critics are divided: 4 of 6 recommend it. It is heavy, expensive and slow to charge.

Do critics agree about the Bose SoundLink Max?

Critics split: scores range from 70 (The Verge) to 100 (Trusted Reviews), a spread of 30 points across 6 reviews. Reviewers disagree, so read the individual reviews before buying.

What do critics dislike about the Bose SoundLink Max?

Call quality (3 of 6 reviews), Price (3 of 6 reviews), Fit and comfort (2 of 6 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Bose SoundLink Max?

The Bose SoundLink Plus (critic score 86), top pick, narrowly.