I tested my favorite Bose and B&O audiophile Bluetooth speakers in a head-to-head showdown — here's the one I'd buy with my own money

I’ve said it before, but choosing a Bluetooth speaker in this day and age is a very challenging task. Simply put, there are just so many amazing options – not good for those of us who struggle with choice paralysis.

Luckily, I’ve tested more than 40 Bluetooth speakers, so I have a good idea of what to look out for when selecting your next portable audio companion. Today, I wanted to compare two speakers that may have premium price tags and offer great sound, but actually have a whole host of differences: the Bose SoundLink Plus and the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen.

Now, both of these speakers are excellent and received stellar reviews from us here at TechRadar. They both also compete with the very best Bluetooth speakers around. But which one should you buy? I’ll walk you through their unique qualities, and compare them across areas like features, sound quality, design, and value, to help you make the right call.

Article continues below

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: price and availability

The Bose SoundLink Plus was released in June 2025, and is typically priced at $269 / £249 / AU$429. And sure, that’s a fairly steep price to pay, but you do get an awful lot of quality in return. On top of that, I’ve seen the SoundLink Plus go on sale in the past – even dropping as low as $180 / £180 in some sale events.

Meanwhile, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen dropped in May 2025, and is typically a little pricier than its Bose rival. It has a list price of $349 / £299 / AU$639 – a luxury cost for an equally luxurious product. This model goes on sale pretty rarely, but I’ve seen it discounted in some territories, like the UK, for close to £260.

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: specs

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: features

You’d expect an expansive feature-set from any speaker in the $200 - $300 / £200 - £300 price bracket, and both of these models supply that – at least for the most part.

The Bose SoundLink Plus comes with the usual good stuff like multi-point connectivity and Google Fast Pair, but if you download the Bose control app, you can unlock even more. For instance, you can customize the handy shortcut button, rename the speaker, or adjust EQ.

Personally, I think Bose’s EQ settings are a little simplistic. You can select a preset that either boosts or reduces the bass or the treble, or you can manually alter the level of the lows, mids, or highs. But a lot of rivals offer genre-specific presets too, and often have five-band or higher EQ customization, enabling you to better customize sound to your taste.

Still, most of the stuff you’d want from a modern Bluetooth speaker is here. And audiophiles will appreciate the option to stream music at a higher resolution using the aptX Adaptive codec – though you’ll need a compatible device. Otherwise, it’ll be SBC or AAC.

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen also comes with support for the aptX Adaptive codec, which I always find gives a pleasantly detailed take on my favorite tunes. But where Bang & Olufsen takes it up a notch is with the inclusion of USB-C audio passthrough. This provides lossless, higher-fidelity listening than the SoundLink Plus can offer – a model that skips on 3.5mm connectivity too.

On top of this, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen provides a step-up in the EQ department, with mood-based presets like Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, and Warm. You can also go for a custom setup if you’d prefer, although I think this model sounds great out of the box. Its app is also a bit more fleshed-out, with some fun inclusions like integrated radio stations available.

I’m not trying to be mean to the Bose SoundLink Plus, but B&O has it beat in other areas too. For instance, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen has built-in microphones for clearer hands-free calls – something omitted by its Bose counterpart. You also get 24 hours of battery life from B&O’s circular speaker, while Bose only provides 20 hours of playback.

It’s not all one-sided, though. For example, the Bose SoundLink Plus offers very solid multi-speaker pairing capabilities, with the ability to link with an identical unit for stereo sound, or with other models – like the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 – for some added volume. The B&O can pair with an identical unit, or the Beosound A1 2nd Gen for stereo playback, but it lacks the ability to link up with other models. Still, I think we’ll hand the first category to the A1 3rd Gen, all things considered.

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: sound quality

Here’s where things gets juicy. See, it may look like the smaller Bang & Olufsen speaker would struggle to compete with the stockier and blockier Bose model, but they both boast plenty of power. Whichever model you pick, you’ll get enough volume to keep the vibes strong, even at a gathering or small party.

But which model sounds better? Well, let’s start by taking a look at the Bose SoundLink Plus. This speaker largely impressed me during testing, and took a satisfyingly revealing approach to playing my music. When listening to Clair-Obscur by Alice Duport-Percier and Lorien Testard, soaring, layered vocals intertwined beautifully, while expressive and emotive acoustic guitars glided through the track with beautiful rhythm and tonality. Instruments and vocals were separated to impressive effect, yet there was a strikingly cohesive quality to the speaker’s output.

The speaker tackles treble well too, offering expressive yet controlled highs, even when creeping towards peak volumes. When listening to heavier tunes, I never felt that thrashing drums sounded shrill or tinny – they were aggressive in a way that felt true.

In the low-end, my views remain largely positive, though I have a few notes. In general, you get a pretty punchy performance from the SoundLink Plus – the low-end comes through clearly and doesn’t sound underpowered, especially with a custom tuning. But when I listened to house tunes, like Touch Me by Luke Dean and Max Dean, I was left wanting a little more. The bass didn’t have that full-sounding thump that I was craving, and could sometimes fall short of the presence and dynamism I’d expect.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think that the SoundLink Plus performs decently in the depths of the frequency range, but it could be better.

When it comes to the B&O speaker, I wouldn’t say the same about its bass output, though – for me, it nails it. For a speaker of its size, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen offers seriously impactful low-end sound – it’s mighty, direct, and even immersive. I’d even issue a warning here – make sure you’ve got a solid surface for this thing to sit on, because it can cause less stable constructions to shake at higher volumes!

I tried listening to a lot of house music on the B&O model, and in tracks like Breather by Chris Stussy, I was astonished by the agility and complete-sounding bass on offer – I could hardly stop listening when using it while testing for my best Bluetooth speakers buying guide.

But unlike Meghan Trainor, I don’t think it’s all about that bass. See, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen offers balanced all-round sound, with commendable detail across the frequency range. In tunes like A Horse With No Name by America, I was instantly impressed by the way vocals and the strumming acoustic guitar occupied almost separate pockets. Subtler percussive sounds also came through sounding gentle yet perfectly weighted . As the tune built, the speaker kept its composure, and delivered a layered, intricate, and emotive performance.

Treble is tight and vivid too, with M-High’s Harmony In the Distance showcasing the B&O’s ability to serve up expressive highs while pumping out imposing bass and hypnotic synths – all without a single element impeding the other.

The Bose SoundLink Plus is a very good performer overall, and I want to pay kudos to its open, spacious sound. But the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is a cut above in the bass department, and it offers that extra layer of separation required to wow the listener. Another B&O win.

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: design

When it comes to looks, these two couldn’t be much more different. See, the Bose SoundLink Plus assumes a more traditional cuboid form, with a fabric loop on the side if you want to fasten it to something like a hook or bag. However, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen has a circular build, with an upward facing speaker grille and a versatile leather strap. And the differences don’t stop there.

For instance, the Bose SoundLink Plus has a rubber exterior as well as a powder-coated steel grille, giving it a brilliant combination of drop-proof practicality and a premium finish. It’s available in a simply stunning set of colors too, including Citrus Yellow and Blue Dusk, but there’s also a basic Black if you’d prefer.

The B&O can’t quite offer the same vibrant, eye-catching look of its Bose rival, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This model opts for the more understated, classy approach, and is available in colorways like Wam Granite, Green Eucalyptus, Natural Aluminium, and my personal favorite, Honey Tone. All of these look excellent and fit the luxurious look of the model to perfection.

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen is also constructed masterfully. The lower half of the speaker is constructed from hard-wearing polymer, while the upper segment is made of textured pearl-blasted anodized aluminum. We stated it clearly in our review, but I’ll repeat it here: the pride of ownership you experience with this speaker – not only from its sound, but from its build – is precisely what makes it so special.

While the B&O may have a durable exterior, it may be a little more prone to scratches and scuffs than its Bose rival. Still though, both are pretty rugged – something symbolized by their shared IP67 rating. This indicates that both models are fully dustproof, and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes. Perfect for shower listening sessions or pool parties.

Both of these speakers have great designs – they even have neat button placement and LED lights to indicate aspects like remaining battery life. But the model you prefer will be a personal thing. If you want something bright and colorful with top-tier durability, then the Bose is where it’s at. However, I’m going to give the edge to the B&O once more – the quality of its materials, its iconic circular build, its distinctive color options… it’s all to die for.

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: value

As I mentioned at the start, both of these speakers come with premium price tags, but which one is actually worth splashing out on?

Well, the Bose may seem like the obvious choice at first due to its typically lower cost. At $269 / £249 / AU$429, it’s not exactly cheap, but remains a very tempting option. It offers revealing sound with hi-res Bluetooth streaming support, it’s well-built with a vibrant look, and can link up with other Bose models to boot. I think the feature-set could be a little more expansive, and bass could be a little more refined, but it’s still a fantastic model all things considered.

Meanwhile, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen comes in at $349 / £299 / AU$639. And I won’t beat around the bush: that’s an awful lot to spend on a speaker of this size, especially when that amount of cash could typically land you a larger model like the JBL Xtreme 4 or an on-sale Bose SoundLink Max.

But even if it’s pricey, I still think you get what you pay for with this B&O speaker. It’s made of luxurious materials, and has equally luxurious sound quality to match. It's highly waterproof, comes with an amazing companion app, and supports genuinely lossless audio via USB-C.

Even though the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is expensive, I’m yet to test another Bluetooth speaker that’s got it beat for quality in its size class. And by B&O’s lofty standards, this speaker is definitely on the more affordable end of the spectrum anyway. There’s a lot to like about the Bose SoundLink Plus – I just think I’d want slightly better battery life and features at the price, so I’d edge the B&O model here.

Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: verdict

So, there you have it. After winning the vast majority of the above categories, victory goes to the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen. It’s hard to think of a better looking Bluetooth speaker, and its infectious, immersive sound is seriously hard to top. Yes it’s pricey, but it actually feels worth the expenditure – and if you can grab it in a rare sale, I’d strongly suggest doing so.

As for the Bose SoundLink Plus, I want to be crystal clear: this is a very good speaker indeed. It has a rough and ready design, is popping with color, and its sound quality – although not quite perfect – is still very strong, with impressive detail levels and aptX Adaptive support. If you want something a little cheaper than the B&O, I’d happily recommend this model, especially if you can get a discounted unit.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.