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Bose Quietly Just Gave Its Vintage-Inspired Speaker a Bespoke Upgrade

First introduced last year, the speaker is quite different from Bose’s other offerings.

Close-up of a Bose speaker grille in a textured brown fabric with a small metallic Bose logo on the left side. The top edge shows part of the speaker's control panel with buttons.Bose

By Tucker Bowe

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Bose is on a hot streak.

In the last several weeks, the audio giant has introduced second-generation models of its flagship wireless headphones and wireless earbuds, in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, respectively.

It also unveiled two new rugged portable Bluetooth speakers earlier this summer. Specifically, there’s the SoundLink Plus ($269), a midrange speaker that falls between the SoundLink Flex ($149) and SoundLink Max ($399). And there’s a second-generation version of its tiny speaker, the SoundLink Micro.

It might have fallen under the radar, but Bose has quietly introduced a new colorway of its SoundLink Home, too.

A rectangular Bose speaker with a fabric front panel in a brownish color, featuring a circular speaker design on the right side and the Bose logo on the left. The speaker has a dark frame with rounded edges and is placed on a beige and white checkered cloth on a wooden surface. The background shows a blurred kitchen setting with a potted plant.
The SoundLink Home is a portable Bluetooth speaker designed for home listening.
Bose

A unique Bose speaker

Bose’s SoundLink Home is a unique portable speaker in a number of ways.

First, instead of mostly rubber and plastic, the SoundLink Home has an entirely new design that combines metal and fabric. It’s designed to have a more old-school vibe.

A sleek, rectangular Bose speaker with rounded edges, featuring a fabric front grille in a beige tone and a metallic bronze frame. The speaker has a modern, minimalist design with the Bose logo on the front grille and a small indicator light on the side. The background is dark brown, highlighting the speaker's warm metallic and fabric textures.
Introduced in late 2024, the SoundLink Home has a different vibe compared to the brand’s more rugged SoundLink speakers.
Bose

Second, unlike Bose’s other SoundLink speakers, the Home lacks a water-resistance rating and thus isn’t meant to be taken to the pool or beach. Instead, it’s a portable Bluetooth speaker designed for home listening.

Third, it lacks any app compatibility. This means it’s uncomplicated to use and set up — which is great for people who want an easy-to-use speaker. If you have two SoundLink Home speakers, you can group them in a stereo pair via their top buttons.

Top view of a rectangular speaker with a fabric-covered body and a dark brushed metal control panel. The control panel features five buttons: a power button, a Bluetooth button, volume down and volume up buttons, and a multi-function button with three dots.
The SoundLink Home is a mostly no-frills Bluetooth speaker. But it has a few neat tricks.
Bose

A Warm Wood finish

Since its introduction in October 2024, Bose has offered the SoundLink Home speaker in just two finishes: Silver or Grey. But now it has introduced a third in “Warm Wood.”

The new Warm Wood finish looks to be a slight tweak on the current Grey model, with a lighter and more golden fabric grille and metal body.

It’s a subtle upgrade, admittedly, but handsome nonetheless.

A rectangular Bose speaker with a fabric front sits on a wooden table covered partially by a beige and white patterned runner. Next to the speaker is a glass bowl with orange slices and a clear glass of water. A white kettle with a wooden handle is placed further back on the table. A person in a beige jacket and brown top is holding a cup, slightly out of focus in the foreground.
Bose’s SoundLink Home in the new “Warm Wood” finish.
Bose

Price and availability

Since its release, Bose appears to have increased the price of its SoundLink Home speaker. At launch, it was priced at $219. Now it costs $229.

The SoundLink Home in Warm Wood is available now from the company’s website. It costs the same as the Grey and Silver models.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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