Bose

Bose Smart Speaker 500

Ranked #13 in Smart Speakers

50 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

A 2018 design trading on brand equity with a shrinking feature set and an uncertain platform future. The Era 100 beats it in every way that matters over time.

Consolidated from 7 independent outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

5 positive sources
2 mixed sources

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Flagged as a product to avoid

3 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. A trap is a product buyers genuinely cross-shop but should not buy, ranked honestly alongside the real picks rather than dropped to the bottom. Why the boards include them

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Pros & cons

✓ Bose brand recognition
✓ Long market presence since 2018

✗ 2018 design still on sale at a premium price
✗ Google Assistant support has been withdrawn
✗ Bose previously end-of-lifed its SoundTouch smart platform
✗ Bose has effectively exited the smart speaker category in favor of soundbars and portables
✗ Sonos Era 100 beats it on sound, features, and expected support life for the money

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 1 article, 5 video reviews and 1 community source

5 positive sources

Nar Role Broker Association · reviewer · Oct 2025

Known for its sleek design and superior sound, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 features a small display for track info and cover art, and it supports both Alexa and Google Assistant. Agent Tip: For luxury listings, Bose devices add a touch of sophistication and high-end branding.

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GYMCADDY GYMCADDY · 176K subscribers · Feb 2019

I didn’t expect to like this Smart speaker as much as I did and it sounds very impressive for its small size.

Watch F Facebook Hans Hendriks · owner

I think any speaker that has airplay 2 is a good buy as long as it sounds good. So if you like Bose, that’s not bad at all.

View post T The_Rev_Room The_Rev_Room · 5.3K subscribers · Dec 2020

Here we have the Bose Home Speaker 500 model that retails for 300$. This incredible speaker is more then loud enough for any size room. You can use this speaker with voice assistants like google and amazon alexa, and also have tune-able functions

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To The Point To The Point · 1.3K subscribers · Feb 2021

Overall, the Bose Home Speaker 500 is good-looking speaker with quality sound, great loudness, and discreet enough to fit in any living room. Uh, the setup is straightforward and cherry on the top is that Bose has recently revised the speakers uh price. The speaker now costs less than £300, which is about £120 cheaper than its price at launch. With all these things in mind, Bose Home Speaker 500 would make a great addition to any home

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2 mixed sources

Consumer Solutions Consumer Solutions · 25.5K subscribers · Oct 2022

we analyzed thousands of consumer reviews on the Bose Home speaker 500 and consumers love its impressive audio and color display along with its ability to work with Alexa and Google Assistant Additionally the user is dissatisfied with the very high price and the difficulty of setting up the Wi-Fi

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EvoGrid EvoGrid · 3.3K subscribers · Jun 2026

But on the other hand, there are a few things Bose doesn't exactly advertise that could seriously affect whether this speaker is worth your money in 2026. So, after digging through expert reviews and real-world testing, here's the deal with the Bose Smart Speaker 500 and whether you should actually buy one today. Bose Smart Speaker 500 Product Overview.

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #13 of 17 on our smart speakers tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 7 independent outlets.

None of the 7 sources with a clear view is critical of it. 2018 design still on sale at a premium price. Google Assistant support has been withdrawn. Bose previously end-of-lifed its SoundTouch smart platform. Bose has effectively exited the smart speaker category in favor of soundbars and portables. Sonos Era 100 beats it on sound, features, and expected support life for the money.

On our smart speakers board, Sonos Move 2 ranks #11 (F tier) ahead of Bose Smart Speaker 500 at #13 (F tier). Sonos Move 2: Excellent build and sound, but a sealed battery makes it the only pick whose core component is designed to degrade.

On our smart speakers board, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ranks #2 (S tier) ahead of Bose Smart Speaker 500 at #13 (F tier). Apple HomePod (2nd Gen): The best-tested speaker in the category per What Hi-Fi, with the best build, firmware-support and service reputation of any brand here. Ecosystem lock-in is the only real cost.