Wi-Fi at home too
Cheaper alternatives to the Bose SoundLink Max
Three smaller, cheaper speakers. None fills a garden like the Max.
Updated 13 November 2026
Bag-sized battery champ
Beats Pill
- Up to 24 hours
- Speakerphone
Bose sound, far cheaper
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
- Works any way up
- Bose app EQ
The original
Bose SoundLink Max
Worth it if: You host outdoor parties
- Big, punchy sound
- Tight, powerful bass
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What are you actually paying extra for with the SoundLink Max?
What the extra money buys
- Big, punchy sound
- Tight, powerful bass
- Up to 20 hours
Worth it if
- You host outdoor parties
- You want to charge your phone from it
Not worth it if
- It needs to fit a small bag
- You want calls on the speaker
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sonos Roam 2
What Hi-Fi? found meaty sound for its size but said clarity could improve; TechRadar praised the rich, powerful audio but found 10 hours short. It suits people who want one speaker for the house and the park.
Beats Pill
What Hi-Fi? praised its clean sound and rich bass for the size, though it isn't as big or dynamic as the best. TechRadar liked the stamina but missed an EQ. It suits travellers who want long battery and calls.
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
Tom's Guide liked its deep bass and EQ but found the soundstage narrow. T3 praised the rugged build but not the battery. It suits people who like Bose's sound but don't need the Max's size or volume.
Final recommendation: The Sonos Roam 2 suits a Sonos home and the odd day out. The Beats Pill wins on battery and calls, and the SoundLink Flex 2 keeps Bose sound for far less. Keep the SoundLink Max for outdoor parties that need big volume.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Premium | Affordable | Budget | Budget |
| Battery per charge (claimed) | Up to 20 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 24 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Water and dust rating | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
| Weight | 2.13 kg | 0.44 kg | 680 g | About 540 g |
| Power | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Can the Bose SoundLink Max charge a phone?
Yes. TechRadar notes its USB-C power-out, though the speaker itself is slow to charge.
Does the SoundLink Max have a microphone?
No. What Hi-Fi? points out there's no mic for calls; the Beats Pill has one.
Is the SoundLink Flex 2 a smaller SoundLink Max?
In style, yes. It's far smaller, quieter and cheaper, with less bass and battery.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Bose SoundLink Max with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Bose: SoundLink Max, What Hi-Fi?: Bose SoundLink Max review, TechRadar: Bose SoundLink Max review, Sonos: Roam 2, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Roam 2 review, TechRadar: Sonos Roam 2 review, Beats: Beats Pill, What Hi-Fi?: Beats Pill review, TechRadar: Beats Pill review, Bose: SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen), Tom's Guide: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review, T3: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review.