What are the main benefits of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?
The Bose PortableSmart Speaker is an incredible-sounding smart speaker that’s flexible enough to handle any situation. It produces surprisingly spacious audio, including deep, rich bass, that spreads evenly in all directions so it envelops you from every angle. It’s battery-powered, so you can easily bring it with you all around your home and ask Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for music. And away from Wi-Fi®, it’s still an excellent Bluetooth® speaker — so your sound can go wherever you go. Plus, you can control it with the Bose Music app, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify® Connect, or with the intuitive buttons on the speaker. And you can group it with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars to fill your home with sound — or even send synchronized audio to a Bose Bluetooth speaker or pair of headphones.
How does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker compare to the Bose Smart Speaker 500 and Bose Home Speaker 300?
The Bose PortableSmart Speaker is our only portable smart speaker, while the Bose Home Speaker 300 and Smart Speaker 500 have no battery and must be plugged into the wall to function. Acoustically, the PortableSmart Speaker and the Home Speaker 300 have comparable performance, with the same 360-degree sound and impressively rich bass from similarly compact sizes. Meanwhile, the larger Bose Smart Speaker 500 is our best-sounding smart speaker, providing wall-to-wall stereo sound from a single enclosure. The Smart Speaker 500 also includes a display screen to show you what’s playing. Finally, the PortableSmart Speaker is water resistant and does not have an AUX input, while the Home Speaker 300 andSmart Speaker 500 are not water-resistant and do include AUX.
All three speakers share the same voice, app, and software features, including your choice of Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, compatibility with the Bose Music app, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, the ability to synchronize in multi-room groups, and more.
How does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker compare to the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II?
The Bose PortableSmart Speaker has noticeably more powerful acoustic performance than the SoundLink Revolve+ II and is a bit larger, with a different visual design. Both products work as a Bluetooth speaker in any environment, but when you bring the PortableSmart Speaker onto a Wi-Fi network, it also works as a smart speaker with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa — plus all the other features of a Bose smart speaker (Bose Music app compatibility, synchronizing multiple speakers, AirPlay 2, and more). The SoundLink Revolve+II does not have any built-in voice assistants, smart features, or Wi-Fi access. Finally, the SoundLink Revolve+ II has a battery life up to 17 hours, while the extra acoustic power and voice assistant functionality of the PortableSmart Speaker limit its battery life up to 12 hours at loud volumes.
What should I do if the Bose Music app doesn’t find my Portable Smart Speaker during setup?
First check if your speaker is in Setup Mode: the upper and lower portions of the light ring should be glowing an amber color. If this is not the case, please follow these three simple steps to make sure your speaker is in Setup Mode:
1. Connect the speaker to a power outlet using the USB-C cable and power supply
2. Turn the speaker on by pressing the power button
3. Simultaneously press and hold the volume down and the play/pause buttons for six seconds. While you’re doing this, the sides of the light ring should glow white and increase in size
From which sources can I play music?
The Bose PortableSmart Speaker can play music directly from streaming music services over Wi-Fi, controlled either by Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa (where available), or using the Bose Music app. The Bose PortableSmart Speaker also has Bluetooth capability. Additionally, you can play music on the Bose PortableSmart Speaker from the Spotify app on a smartphone, tablet, or computer using Spotify Connect, and from an Apple device via Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility for streaming content like Apple Music.
Can I use the Bose Portable Smart Speaker without Wi-Fi?
Yes. When no Wi-Fi is available, you can use the PortableSmart Speaker as a powerful Bluetooth speaker by connecting to it through your mobile device’s Bluetooth settings. Wi-Fi is required for smart features such as voice control through Google Assistant or Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2, Bose Music app control and content browsing, multi-speaker grouping, and more.
What happens when I bring the speaker away from a Wi-Fi network while it’s playing?
If you start music on the Bose PortableSmart Speaker through Wi-Fi (using a voice assistant or the Bose Music app, for example) and then you carry the product away from your Wi-Fi network, at some point the speaker will lose its Wi-Fi signal and the music will stop. At that point, if you want to keep playing, just press the Bluetooth button on the speaker to connect to your mobile device and play content from there. If you start playback over Bluetooth away from Wi-Fi and then bring the speaker home to a Wi-Fi network, it will reconnect to Wi-Fi in the background without interrupting your music.
How long will the battery last?
Battery life depends on what type of music you’re playing and at what volume, but the battery of the PortableSmart Speaker will last up to 12 hours while playing at a loud volume. It will last over 24 hours in standby mode, listening for voice commands. And if you turn it all the way off for storage, travel, or battery savings, it will last a month or more.
How long does it take for the battery to charge fully?
4 hours, as long as you are using the Bose-provided power cable attached to the speaker or to the Bose PortableSmart Speaker Charging Cradle (available as an accessory). Using a third-party USB-C cable or power source may increase charging time.
How do I turn off the microphones on the speaker?
The microphones on the Bose PortableSmart Speaker may be turned off with a single press of the microphone-off button on the top of the speaker (on the left side). This button completely cuts power to the microphones, so the speaker will not hear any commands. For security reasons, it is not possible to use a voice command or the Bose Music app to turn the microphones on or off — only a physical button press can control the microphones. When the microphones are off, the red light beside the button will always be lit up. Simply press the microphone button again if you want to turn the microphones back on.
Can I still play music on the speaker when the microphones are turned off?
Yes. Although the Bose PortableSmart Speaker has Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built in, you can also play music from other sources, such as integrated Wi-Fi music services available through the Bose Music app. You can also use a Bluetooth connection, Spotify Connect, or Apple AirPlay 2. All these non-voice sources are available independent of whether the microphones are turned off or whether Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa are enabled.
Does Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa work when the speaker is not plugged into power?
Yes. As long as you have set up your assistant and are within range of a Wi-Fi network your speaker knows, your voice assistant will be connected, and your speaker will listen for your command — even if it’s on battery power. That means you can use the PortableSmart Speaker as a voice-controlled smart speaker all around the home — ask it for music in the kitchen, on the patio, or even yell to it from the shower.
Can I make or take calls from the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?
Yes. Using Alexa only, you can directly call Bose smart products, Amazon Echo products, and anyone in your contacts list. Simply say, “Alexa, call Mom,” to initiate a call. Or say “Alexa, answer,” to accept an incoming call. You do not need your phone to make or take a call, and it’s free of charge. However, when calling products, both parties are required to have this feature set up in order to use and be on Wi-Fi.
Currently, Amazon Alexa works with QC35 headphones II, QC35 II Gaming Headset, Headphones 700, Home Speaker 300, Smart Speaker 500, Portable Smart Speaker, Smart Soundbar 300, Soundbar 500, and Smart Soundbar 700.
Can I use the Bose Portable Smart Speaker as a clock or alarm?
Yes. Although the Bose PortableSmart Speaker does not have a display to show the time visually, you can use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa (where available) to ask for the time, timers, and alarms.
Does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker have Wi-Fi built in?
Yes. The speaker uses the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.
Does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker have Bluetooth built in?
Yes. Bluetooth makes it easy for anyone to connect a smartphone or other device to the Bose PortableSmart Speaker in a familiar way, and allows you the flexibility to play audio from any source, like a YouTube video or a recording saved on a phone or laptop.
Does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker have an auxiliary line-in jack or the ability to play auxiliary through its USB-C port?
No.
Can I charge the speaker and play audio at the same time?
Yes.
Does the Bose Portable Smart Speaker include or work with a remote control?
No. You can control the product from across the room using voice control through Google Assistant or Alexa (where available), or from anywhere on your Wi-Fi network using the Bose Music app or Apple AirPlay 2, or from remote locations using Spotify Connect.
Is the Bose Portable Smart Speaker water resistant?
Yes. The PortableSmart Speaker is IPx4 water resistant, so you can get it wet with splashes and sprays. While the speaker should not be submerged under water, it can easily withstand sprays from sitting next to the sink, the pool, or the shower.
Can the product connect to more than one Bluetooth device at a time?
No. Only one mobile device can be connected to the Bose PortableSmart Speaker at a time via Bluetooth. However, it’s easy to switch between devices using the Bose Music app or the Bluetooth settings on the selected device.
What is the acoustic technology in the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?
The Bose PortableSmart Speaker applies unique Bose portable speaker acoustic technology in a new, more powerful form factor. An ultra-efficient, high-excursion transducer aims downward into an acoustic deflector to radiate rich sound uniformly in every direction, while three passive radiators deepen the bass by increasing the vibrating surface area of the speaker. Just like with our SoundLink Revolve and Revolve+ portable speakers, this 360-degree design avoids the positional sweet spots and frequency drop-offs of speakers that just aim forward — but this time, with the extra power and stronger bass that comes with a new shape and a third passive radiator. Placed in the middle of the room, a corner, or anywhere in between, the Bose PortableSmart Speaker delivers the same impressive audio experience for everyone. Music is clear, surprisingly spacious, and remarkably loud for a product of this size.
Can I control the bass and treble?
Yes. Bass and treble can be adjusted via the settings menu in the Bose Music app.
Can the Bose Portable Smart Speaker work in multi-room groups with other Bose products like speakers or headphones?
Yes. The Bose PortableSmart Speaker can play in synchronized multi-room groups with additional Bose PortableSmart Speaker units, or with the Bose Smart Speaker 500, the Bose Home Speaker 300, the Bose Soundbar 500, or the Bose Smart Soundbar 700.And coming soon, you can also send synchronized audio from the Bose PortableSmart Speaker to one additional Bose Bluetooth product, such as a portable speaker or pair of headphones. However, you cannot play synchronized multi-room content across the Bose PortableSmart Speaker and either Bose SoundTouch products or products from other manufacturers (including Google or Amazon).
FAQs
Does Bose portable home speaker work without wifi? ›
Outside Wi-Fi range, you can control it like any other portable speaker with your mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth and listen to anything you can play on your device. And no matter what you listen to or where you listen to it, you'll hear it all in 360 degrees of astonishing Bose sound.
Can the Bose portable smart speaker connect to TV? ›A: Yes, if the TV supports Bluetooth. A: Yes, you can! A: Regrettably it is not possible to pair a microphone with the Portable Smart Speaker.
How do I use my Bose smart speaker? ›Bose Portable Smart Speaker – Unboxing + Setup - YouTube
Is JBL or Bose better? ›Sound quality- Both of these offer high-quality sound. But, the JBL GO 3 works better with Android devices. On the other hand, the Sound Link is more suitable for IOS devices. The SoundLink from Bose comes with additional features like Google assistant support, Siri compatibility, and better phone call pick-ups.
How long does it take to charge a Bose portable smart speaker? ›The battery light glows yellow while charging and turns off when charged. Typically, the battery will fully charge in about 3 hours; this varies depending on the charge level and if the product is in use while charging. In some cases, it can take up to 10 hours to fully charge.
How do I talk to my Bose speaker? ›Bose SoundLink Revolve – Using the Speakerphone - YouTube
Why are Bose speakers the best? ›Bose speakers are the best in terms of sound quality. They have a very good bass and treble, which is why they are preferred by many people. The clarity of their music is also amazing as compared to other brands available in the market today.
Is Bose still the best? ›Bose often ranks in first or second place on best brand lists. On Tech 21 Century, Bose comes in second for best speaker brand. On My New Microphone, Bose ranks as the best brand for loudspeakers. Bose ranks very well against other speaker brands.
How do I connect my Bose speaker to my TV? ›Bose TV Speaker – Unboxing + Setup - YouTube
How do I connect my phone to my Bose speaker? ›Bose SoundLink Color - Pairing with Android Devices - YouTube
Why won't my Iphone connect to my Bose speaker? ›
On the Bluetooth device, try turning Bluetooth off and then back on to start a new search for nearby Bluetooth headphones and speakers. If your product still doesn't appear, go to the Bluetooth settings of the device and look for an option to search or scan for available products. Once your product is found, select it.
Why won't my Bose speaker connect to my Wi-Fi? ›If your device does will not connect to the setup network of your Bose product, go to your device Settings, select Cellular and disable Wi-Fi Assist. Then, tap the Bose network name to connect to it. (Note: Wi-Fi Assist is available on iOS 9 and later.)
Can you connect Bluetooth speaker without WIFI? ›Wi-Fi: Yes, Bluetooth works without Wi-Fi. In fact, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi serve similar functions as they both wirelessly connect devices that are in range of each other.
How long does Bose portable home speaker battery last? ›Unfortunately, its battery only lasts around five hours, and you can only pair one device at a time, which might be disappointing if you like to frequently switch your audio source.
Can you connect Bose portable home speaker? ›Get started with your speaker.
on your Apple or Android mobile device (see Downloading the Bose Music app). Once installed, open the app and follow the instructions to get setup. For additional help, select an option below.
Bose Portable Smart Speaker – Connecting to Different Wi-Fi ...