Portable Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen these days. With so many options to choose from, it can be tough deciding which one is right for you. Two popular portable Bluetooth speakers are the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and the Revolve Plus 2 from Ultimate Ears. But which one should you buy?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the key features, sound quality, portability, and price of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and Revolve Plus 2. By the end, you’ll know exactly which portable Bluetooth speaker is the better choice for your needs and budget.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Specs | Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Ultimate Ears Revolve Plus 2 |
| Sound Quality | Very detailed and balanced sound with punchy bass. Proprietary acoustic deflector enhances bass. | Powerful bass and immersive 360 degree sound. Crisp mids and highs. |
| Smart Features | Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. WiFi and Spotify Connect. | Bluetooth 5.0. App control. |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 splashproof rating | IP67 fully waterproof |
| Portability | 2.3 lbs, cylindrical shape | 1.8 lbs, cylindrical shape |
| Price | $399 MSRP, ~$349 retail | $229 MSRP, ~$199 retail |
Overview Of The Bose Portable Smart Speaker
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker was released in 2019 and is Bose’s take on the portable Bluetooth speaker market. As a “smart” speaker, it has built-in voice assistant support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This allows you to use voice commands to play music, get information, set reminders, control smart home devices, and more.
Some key features and specs:
- Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support
- 360 degree sound with deep bass
- IPX4 water resistant rating
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to 12 hours
- Weighs 2.3 pounds
- Dimensions are 7.5″ x 4.1″ x 4.1″
The cylindrical design isn’t the most compact, but it disperses sound evenly in all directions. The IPX4 rating means it can withstand splashes from any direction. Battery life is decent at up to 12 hours of continuous playback.
In terms of sound quality, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker utilizes a proprietary acoustic deflector to enhance the bass and direct the sound outward. Many reviewers praise the speaker’s detailed and well-balanced sound with punchy bass. It can get fairly loud for its size too.
Overall, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is designed to be an indoor/outdoor Bluetooth speaker with smart features, room-filling sound, and ruggedness. Next let’s see how it compares to the Revolve Plus 2.
Overview Of The Ultimate Ears Revolve Plus 2
The Ultimate Ears Revolve Plus 2 was released in 2022 as an upgraded version of the original Revolve Plus. It’s a mid-sized portable Bluetooth speaker focused on delivering immersive 360 degree sound.
Here are some key Revolve Plus 2 features and specs:
- 360 degree surround sound
- Powerful bass via downward-firing woofer
- IP67 fully waterproof and dustproof rating
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts up to 17 hours
- Weighs 1.8 pounds
- Dimensions are 8.0” x 3.25” diameter
The squat cylindrical shape allows sound to radiate equally in all directions. And the IP67 rating means its fully waterproof and dustproof, which is great for outdoor use. Battery life is an impressive 17 hours.
For sound quality, the Revolve Plus 2 utilizes a 3.25” woofer that fires bass downward and two 1.25” tweeters to deliver crystal clear mids/highs. It can pump out deep, powerful bass and fill larger spaces with immersive audio.
In summary, the Revolve Plus 2 is designed for incredible 360 degree sound in any environment, whether indoors or outdoors. Now let’s pit these two speakers head-to-head.
Sound Quality Comparison
When it comes to sound quality, both the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and Revolve Plus 2 impress but in slightly different ways.
The Bose speaker produces very detailed, balanced sound with punchy bass that can fill a room. The proprietary acoustic deflector helps enhance the bass and disperse it evenly. Many audiophiles praise the clarity and spatialization of the Bose.
Comparatively, the Revolve Plus 2 focuses more on powerful, immersive 360 degree sound. The downward-firing woofer delivers booming bass you can really feel. And the 360 degree sound envelops you whether indoors or out. The mids and highs also sound crisp and defined.
Overall, the Revolve Plus 2 edges out the Bose for bass power and immersive sound. But the Bose still sounds fantastic with excellent clarity and balance. Both can get very loud and fill spaces with sound nicely.
So for engulfing 360 degree audio, the Revolve Plus 2 is the winner. But for balanced clarity, the Bose also impresses. Either way, you can’t go wrong for sound quality.
Portability Comparison
Since these are both portable Bluetooth speakers, let’s also compare how they stack up in terms of portability and design.
In terms of pure portability, the Revolve Plus 2 has a slight edge. It’s about a half pound lighter than the Bose at just 1.8 pounds. And the squat cylinder shape may be a bit easier to pack down versus the taller Bose.
However, the Bose is still very portable at just 2.3 pounds. Plus the cylindrical shape means it’s easy to grab and go. So portability is fairly similar between the two.
For design, the Bose speaker has a more uniform look with wraparound metal grille. The Revolve Plus 2 has a rubber bottom and more plastic surfaces. Both feel durable, but some may prefer the sleeker aesthetics of the Bose.
The Revolve Plus 2 also has one design advantage with its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. That means you can submerge it in water with no issues. The IPX4 Bose is splash-proof but not fully waterproof like the Revolve Plus 2.
Overall, both speakers boast portable designs and decent weight. But the Revolve Plus 2 being fully waterproof gives it an edge for portability and outdoor use.
Also Read: Is Sonos Move Better Than Bose S1 Pro?
Smart Features Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison of the smart features offered on each speaker:
- The Bose Portable Smart Speaker has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support. This allows voice control of music, information, smart home devices, and more.
- The Revolve Plus 2 doesn’t have a voice assistant. But it does feature Bluetooth 5.0 for easy pairing and extended range.
- Both speakers can be controlled and customized via companion apps – the Bose Music app and Ultimate Ears app, respectively.
- Only the Bose Portable Smart Speaker supports WiFi and Spotify Connect for streaming without Bluetooth.
The built-in voice assistant gives the Bose speaker added functionality. But the Revolve Plus 2 still offers useful smart features via the app and Bluetooth 5.0. It comes down to whether you want or need a voice assistant directly on your speaker.
Battery Life Comparison
Battery life is another key factor for portable Bluetooth speakers. Longer battery means you can enjoy your music for extended periods between charges.
The Revolve Plus 2 is the clear winner when it comes to battery life. It can keep playing for up to 17 hours on a full charge. That’s several more hours than the Bose’s 12 hour battery.
In real world conditions, you’ll get a little less battery life than the advertised numbers. But the Revolve Plus 2 should still outlast the Bose noticeably.
Both speakers charge via USB-C which is convenient. But the Revolve Plus 2 has nearly 50% longer battery life per charge compared to the Bose.
Price Comparison
Lastly, let’s look at how the prices of these two portable Bluetooth speakers compare:
- Bose Portable Smart Speaker: $399 MSRP ($349 typical retail price)
- Ultimate Ears Revolve Plus 2: $229 MSRP ($199 typical retail price)
As you can see, the regular retail price of the Bose speaker is about $150 USD more than the Revolve Plus 2. And discounted prices usually have an even bigger gap of around $150.
So if price is a significant factor, the Revolve Plus 2 gives you great sound and features for much less. The Bose does justify its higher price with smart features and great audio. But the Revolve Plus 2 offers better value overall.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Bose Revolve 2 is definitely worth buying for its impressive 360 degree sound, durable design, great battery life, and handy voice assistant features. The detailed and balanced audio makes music come alive. Just be prepared to pay a premium price for the Bose brand name.
The main differences are:
Revolve+ 2 has slightly better bass and overall sound quality
Revolve+ 2 gets 17 hours of battery life, compared to 16 hours for the original
Revolve+ 2 has Bluetooth 5.0 Vs. 4.2 on the original
Revolve+ 2 charges via USB-C instead of micro USB
Revolve+ 2 has updated IP67 waterproof rating Vs. IPX4
So the Revolve+ 2 improves on the original Revolve+ in a few small but meaningful ways. But audio quality and performance are quite similar overall.
The key differences between the original Revolve and Revolve II are:
Revolve II has slightly better bass and clarity
Revolve II battery lasts up to 13 hours, Vs. 12 hours for the original
Revolve II has Bluetooth 5.1 instead of 4.2
Revolve II has USB-C charging
Revolve II has voice assistant support via button press
So the Revolve II builds on the original with some modest upgrades. Sound quality gets a slight bump while other changes are minor improvements.
Some top Bluetooth speakers that can compete with or surpass Bose include:
Sonos Move – Great sound with WiFi and voice control
JBL Boombox 2 – Huge bass performance
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom – Massive immersive 360 audio
Marshall Stanmore II – Stylish retro design and crisp sound
Sony XB33 – Big bass in a small rugged package
Anker Soundcore Flare 2 – Budget-friendly with great quality
Bose makes excellent Bluetooth speakers. But many alternative brands like Sonos, JBL, Ultimate Ears, and others can match or beat Bose for sound, features, and value. Shop around to get the perfect speaker for your preferences.
Also Read: Choose Between Soundcore Motion Boom And Motion Plus.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, both the Bose Portable Smart Speaker and Revolve Plus 2 are excellent portable Bluetooth speakers with great sound quality.
The Revolve Plus 2 edges out the Bose for its powerful 360 degree sound, fully waterproof rating, longer battery life, and more affordable price point.
But the Bose still sounds fantastic with its detailed clarity and balance. And it offers handy built-in voice assistant support.
So the Revolve Plus 2 may make sense if you want huge immersive sound on a budget. But the Bose is ideal if you want smart features and crisp balanced audio. Either way, you really can’t go wrong with these fantastic portable Bluetooth speakers. Use this comparison to decide which is better suited for your personal needs and budget.
