Who is buying portable wireless speakers? Everyone, apparently, since market research shows sales in the category tripled last year -- and the more portable, the better. After taking a stab in the category with its SoundLink speaker, Bose is elevating things to a new, more compact level with the SoundLink Mini.
Although small-size wireless speakers such as little Jambox and UE Boom are popular, Bose took its time creating a smaller Bluetooth speaker because it didn't want to compromise on sound quality. With the SoundLink Mini, Bose says it built a speaker capable of "full-range" audio in a compact package that measures just 2 x 7 x 2 inches.
I had some ears-on time with the SoundLink Mini at a Bose demo at New York's Grand Central Station. After pairing my iPhone, I cued up a few tracks, including EMF's "Unbelievable," and even carried the little speaker around the large hall to get a feel for its capabilities.
Music sounded great on the small speaker, with no distortion even at high volumes. Maximum volume wasn't uncomfortably loud, but when I took it out into Grand Central, I could still hear the music loud and clear despite din around me, even at 15 feet away.
You be the judge if this is a downside or upside: There's no associated app with the SoundLink. While that means you can't dig deep into the settings (or do tricks like the UE Boom's stereo mode), it obviously makes it dirt simple: Just pair and play.
The SoundLink Mini is definitely on the hefty side. It weighs 1.5 pounds, compared with the Jambox's 12 ounces -- but you also get some serious hardware. Bose says it engineered the transducers from scratch, creating a pair of full-range 1.5-inch driver, which work with a pair of steel passive radiators.
Coming in July, the SoundLink Mini costs $199.95, or $50 less than the current price of the Big Jambox. However, to my ears, the Bose is the better deal, even if the prices were the same. A charging cradle comes in the box, and the battery is rated for 7 hours of continuous use.
What do you look for in a wireless speaker? Let us know in the comments.
Correction: This article initially listed the wrong price for the SoundLink Mini. The correct price is $199.95.