In a surprise announcement, Bose has today launched a new Portable Home Speaker with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant. The compact speaker also works with Spotify Connect and will begin shipping on September 19th for US $349 in black and silver colours.
Bose’s new Portable speaker delivers improved 360-degree sound, deeper bass than similar sizes smart speakers, and weighs just 2.3 pounds. It packs up to 12 hours of battery life, with physical buttons on top for basic functionality, including Bose’s proprietary mic-off feature, power, volume, play/pause and skip tracks, and Bluetooth source.
The speaker is also water-resistant with an IPX4 rating to survive spills, splashes, and rain and is rugged enough to withstand drops, knocks, and hits. It comes with an integrated handle for convenience and can charge through standard USB-C.
“Every Bose smart speaker is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled, but the Portable is the first to offer a rechargeable battery — along with a short list of features everyone wants and loves,” said Ben Burns, senior product manager for Bose speakers. “We lived with it like anyone else would — with our families and friends, away from work — to make sure it was the kind of product we wanted to use, day after day. It was. And we think people who take it home will feel the same way.”
The Bose Portable Home Speaker will be available to order directly from Bose.com, Bose retail stores, and select resellers.
