Bose today unveiled a new product in the product category that it has always been very good at: Bluetooth speakers. Bose amplified its SoundLink Flex into a new, larger model, the SoundLink Max. Considering that Bose's acoustic processing technology has been able to squeeze impressive sound out of relatively small hardware for years, it was tempting to hear what a larger device could do.
The new speaker will be available on May 16 for $399 and will feature three drivers and two custom-designed passive radiators. As a result, it has been quite an improvement over the mono SoundLink Flex.
Bose has equipped the SoundLink Max with an old-fashioned aux input terminal, and a button on the speaker can be assigned to the Spotify Tap or switched to any device plugged into the aux jack.
The speaker also supports the AptX Adaptive codec, which provides higher streaming bitrates than standard AAC and SBC. The battery lasts around 20 hours, and like many other portable speakers today, it comes with USB-C to charge your phone when it's away from an outlet.
The SoundLink Max measures 10.42 inches wide, 4.73 inches high, 4.13 inches deep, and weighs just under 5 pounds, which is enough for Bose to equip it with a (removable) rope handle. If you want to carry the speaker on your shoulder, the company also sells a larger rope strap. Like the SoundLink Flex, Bose is available in black or light blue Max with an IP67 rating to withstand a wide range of harsh environments.