Bose has introduced a new portable speaker designed to make the most of the great outdoors. 

The new SoundLink Max – priced at £399 and available from June 4 – is kitted out with some of Bose’s latest technology, including Bluetooth 5.3 for a sturdy connection and Snapdragon Sound support for super-clear audio. Bose has also included Google Fast Pair for super-speedy pairing of Android devices as well. 

Most important for outdoor listening is the SoundLink Max’s steel construction, which is then coated in silicone and this helps it fend off drops and scrapes as well as protecting it against water and dust. In fact, it’s got an IP67 rating, so it should do well against the worst of the weather. 

Weighing in at 2.27kg, the SoundLink has been designed to be as portable as can be with a removable rope handle helping when it comes to transport. You can even upgrade that to a rope strap for over-shoulder carrying. Bose says that it should return up to 20 hours of playback from a single charge, too, with the charge coming from a USB-C port – and external devices can even use the SoundLink’s charge to top-up via this port too. 

The SoundLink Max still incorporates a traditional AUX input, too, so that you can connect another audio device via a usual audio jack. This frees up the use of record players or CD devices, while a shortcut button on the speaker allows you to quickly switch between connected audio sources. 

As mentioned, the SoundLink Max goes on sale from June 4, though it can be pre-ordered from May 14 via Bose’s website.