Bose’s Vintage-Inspired Speaker Bucks a Popular Audio Trend

The famous audio brand’s speaker looks and feels like a throwback. And I’m here for it.

Published February 18, 2025

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

The beauty of a portable Bluetooth speaker is in its simplicity. You turn it on, and it automatically pairs with your phone and lets you play music. It’s uncomplicated.

That said, many of today’s portable Bluetooth speakers aren’t as simple. They work with a companion app — which you must download and create an account for — that allows you to unlock additional features, like tweaking EQ settings or customizing lighting (should the speaker have it).

While some might like these advanced features, I’d wager that most never use them. And in the end, they just add an extra complication to the initial setup process.

Speaker simplicity

Refreshingly, Bose’s latest portable Bluetooth speaker bucks that trend. Not only is SoundLink Home the brand’s first retro-styled portable Bluetooth speaker — thanks to its fabric and metal design — but using it feels old school, too, because it lacks app support. And I love that.

It’s a welcome surprise, especially considering that Bose’s other new portable Bluetooth speakers, the SoundLink Flex ($149) and SoundLink Max ($399), both support Bose’s companion app for tweaking EQ settings and grouping.

That’s not to say that the SoundLink Home doesn’t have a trick or two up its ~~grille~~ sleeve. For example, it supports USB-C line-in audio, so you can easily plug in your computer and play audio without a Bluetooth connection. And it can double as a speakerphone for calls.

But that’s not all.

A hidden stereo setup

If you’re willing to spend the extra dough on a second speaker, you can unlock the coolest thing about the SoundLink Home: the ability to create a true stereo pair.

On their own, each SoundLink Home is a front-firing speaker that plays mono sound — it sounds good but not great. When stereo-paired, the two SoundLink Homes deliver a bigger, richer and more authentic stereo sound.

Typically, you’d need a companion app to create a stereo pair of two portable Bluetooth speakers — if they can even do it. But with two SoundLink Home, you just have to hold down a combo of buttons on each speaker.

It’s a little awkward and requires some remembering, admittedly. You have to hold down the “Bluetooth Pairing” and “Volume Up” buttons on one speaker, and the “Bluetooth Pairing” and “Volume Down” buttons on the other, then wait for a voice prompt confirming the stereo pair. But it’s easy and it works.

(Mostly) for indoor use

It should be noted that the Bose SoundLink Home isn’t the only “new” portable Bluetooth speaker that is so straightforward to use (the newest Beats Pill also lacks app support). Also, it might not be the right speaker for you.

Most portable Bluetooth speakers are designed ruggedly so that you can take them on basically anywhere. But the SoundLink Home isn’t like that. It lacks any water or dust resistance and, thus, is meant to be played mostly indoors.

Still, as somebody who wants a portable Bluetooth speaker to bring from room to room or out in the backyard in the summer, ruggedness isn’t necessarily high on my priority list.

Bucking the trend

At a time when wireless speakers are more versatile — and more complicated — than ever, the Bose SoundLink Home feels like a throwback. Not only does it look unique (even when compared to other Bose speakers), but it’s also super straightforward to use.

Sure, some might see the lack of app support (along with the additional features) as an omission, but I actually think it’s a reprieve. The simplicity of Bose’s SoundLink Home adds to its charm. And I’m here for it.

The Bose SoundLink Home is available now. It comes in two finishes, gray (shown throughout) or light silver, and costs $219.