In that regard, Bose makes it known that its budget Bluetooth speaker is a worthy contender in this price range. But there's one more card up its sleeve that puts Bose above the competition: sound performance. What the SoundLink Color can push out is much more impressive than what's usually heard in similarly sized – and priced – Bluetooth speakers. The Bose SoundLink Color stands alone in this category, and represents a spectacular value for those seeking a Bluetooth speaker that has heavy-hitting sound chops. Pairing the speaker is simple. Just hold down the Bluetooth button until the light above flashes blue, then pair it as you would with any other Bluetooth device. The SoundLink Color also performed quite well against its more expensive predecessor, the SoundLink Mini. The SoundLink Color gets just as loud, and pumps out enough bass to deliver nearly the same wallop. The SoundLink Color places a slightly greater emphasis on the midrange elements, which gives Thom Yorke's vocal's in "Paranoid Android" a slightly harsh edge when compared with the SoundLink Mini. The same goes for Real Estate's "Beach Comber," which sounds slightly bright on the Color when compared with the Mini. In general, the Mini has a slightly fuller, warmer sound signature.

Switch to Bat For Lashes’ In God’s House and the Bose delivers Natasha Khan’s vocals with good levels of detail. You won't be able to charge your phone with the SoundLink Color, nor will you be able to connect via NFC. Also curiously missing from this speaker is a microphone. This means you'll need to keep your phone handy, as you won't be able to take the call with this speaker. Final verdict The Bose SoundLink Colour doesn’t go big on features. Nor does it Hoover up its design team’s budget in premium materials. The UE Mini Boom comes the closest with a surprisingly bass-heavy sound. But some of that boom muddles the mids and highs in the sound profile.Unlike many other Bluetooth speakers, though, the SoundLink Color is strictly a speaker. It doesn't have a microphone, so speakerphone calls are out of the question. That's a little disappointing at this price, but it's also a feature Bose doesn't seem to focus on with its Bluetooth speakers in general.

When it comes to performance, the SoundLink Color has it in spades. From the overachieving battery life to the even audio, this Bluetooth option is a workhorse that outpaces the competition at its price range. As mentioned above, any misgivings you have about the SoundLink Color's design will be laid to rest once you hear it playing your favorite tunes. This speaker pumps out some of the most impressive audio I've heard at this size and price range. It's easily loud enough to fill an entire room with sound, and amazingly, possibly even loud enough to power your next party. While there's a heavy emphasis on lows and pounding bass, mids and highs don't get lost in the message. This speaker has no issue filling a room with even sound at a variety of volumes.