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PCMag UK

Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III Review

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The Bose SoundLink III is a solid replacement of the Editors' Choice SoundLink II, with powerful, clear sound in a functional, portable body.

Bose SoundLink III : Without Case

Bose apparently used up all of its Bluetooth speaker personality on the SoundLink II and SoundLink Mini, because compared with them the SoundLink III looks downright pedestrian.

Bose SoundLink III : Angle

You can spruce up the SoundLink III a bit with an optional $35 zip-up cover available in five colors.

Bose SoundLink III : Controls

The SoundLink III retains the same set of six soft-touch buttons (Power, Bluetooth, Auxiliary, Mute, and volume Up/Down) on the top as the SoundLink II.

Bose SoundLink III : Back

It has a micro USB port on the back, between the power port and the 3.5mm auxiliary port, but it's just for firmware updates and isn't used for charging the speaker.

Bose SoundLink III : Side

It eschews the vaguely trapezoidal profiles of its predecessors for a plain rectangular shape in two colors: light gray and dark gray.

Bose SoundLink III : Comparison

It's slightly larger than the SoundLink II, measuring 5.2 by 10.1 by 1.9 inches (HWD) and weighing 3 pounds, but it's not particularly more bulky than the SoundLink II's 9.6-inch-wide, 2.9-pound frame.

Bose SoundLink III : Angle

It's not ugly by any means, though, and isn't even particularly minimalist.