If you want better Charging time
Choose JBL Xtreme 4. It scores 4.5 vs 2.8 for Charging time, with a 4.1 overall score.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Speaker 3rd Gen Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Beosound A1 3rd Gen if you want a compact luxury Bluetooth speaker with polished sound, long battery life, and premium build. Skip it if value, maximum volume, AirPlay/Wi-Fi, or rough-and-tumble durability matter more.
Best for
Best for listeners who want a stylish, compact, premium portable speaker with rich detail, strong battery life, good calls, and a refined companion app. It also suits buyers who value repairability and a replaceable battery.
Not for
Not for buyers prioritizing maximum volume, party-scale bass, the lowest price, or rough handling. It is also a poor fit for users who specifically need AirPlay, Wi-Fi streaming, Auracast, or Alexa.
Verdict
The Beosound A1 3rd Gen earns its premium reputation through a rare mix of refined sound, elegant construction, strong battery life, and repair-minded design. Reviewers repeatedly praised its rich midrange, controlled bass, high detail retrieval, responsive controls, and excellent app, while the compact body remains easy to carry. The main tradeoff is value versus desire: several reviews loved the perceived luxury and sound quality, yet also noted that cheaper JBL, Bose, or other rivals can play louder, sound bigger, or offer better sound-per-pound. Missing AirPlay, Wi-Fi, Auracast, and Alexa support also limits its smart-speaker appeal, but as a premium portable Bluetooth speaker, the consensus is broadly positive.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
44 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.024 (55%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.413 (30%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.45 (11%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.42 (5%)
Pros
-
Design and aesthetics were one of the strongest consensus points, with nearly every reviewer praising the premium, elegant, luxurious look and feel.
-
Water resistance was strongly supported by outdoor-use praise and hands-on dunk or sink tests that reported no damage.
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Construction quality was repeatedly praised for premium materials, flawless finishing, and a substantial feel.
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Battery life was a consistent strength, with reviewers calling the 24-hour figure credible, impressive, and in some tests conservative.
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Detail retrieval was a major strength across reviews, with repeated praise for high detail, clarity, and track-level separation.
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The tonal balance was widely praised for rich, controlled bass, clear mids, and refined highs, with a few caveats around ultimate bass depth and one first-impression review finding it flat.
Cons
-
Alexa and voice-assistant support were mixed-to-negative: some reviewers did not miss it, while others treated its removal as a lost useful feature.
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AirPlay compatibility was a clear omission in the Macworld review, which said the lack of Wi-Fi or AirPlay kept it from being perfect for Apple users.
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Wi-Fi streaming was a drawback for Apple-focused users because the speaker lacks Wi-Fi and AirPlay support.
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Charging time was a weak spot because reviewers described the roughly three-hour charge as leisurely or on the long side.
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Value-for-money sentiment was more divided than price alone, ranging from strong praise in one A1 review to doubts from What Hi-Fi and Expert Reviews at the current price.
-
Status indicators worked but drew mild criticism for size and viewing angle.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Portable Bluetooth Speakers, this product is above average in Backwards compatibility, Wired input, Speakerphone quality, near average in Frequency response balance, Smart assistant integration (Alexa, below average in AirPlay compatibility, Wi-Fi streaming reliability, Drop resistance durability.
Comparison summary
44 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher30 (68%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts4 (9%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower10 (23%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay compatibility | 2.0 | 4.6 | -2.6 |
| Backwards compatibility | 4.6 | 2.7 | +1.9 |
| Wired input | 4.9 | 3.1 | +1.8 |
| Wi-Fi streaming reliability | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| Speakerphone quality | 4.4 | 2.7 | +1.7 |
| Bluetooth codec support | 4.4 | 3.1 | +1.3 |
| Distortion at high volume | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| Drop resistance durability | 3.2 | 4.3 | -1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Value for money
Choose JBL Clip 5 Bluetooth Speaker. It scores 4.6 vs 3.1 for Value for money, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Price / value for money
Choose Tribit XSound Plus 2 Portable Wireless Speaker. It scores 4.6 vs 3.7 for Price / value for money, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Drop resistance durability
Choose Tribit StormBox Micro 3. It scores 4.6 vs 3.2 for Drop resistance durability, with a 4.4 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
JBL Charge 6
- Alternative: price alternatives The YouTube reviewer notes buyers could get a Charge 6 instead but frames B&O as quality over quantity.
- Cheaper: performance value What Hi-Fi says the Charge 6 is similar in performance but much cheaper.
- Worse: overall preference TechRadar’s follow-up explicitly recommends the A1 over the Charge 6 for looks, audio, and app quality.
JBL Flip 7
- Better: ruggedness rating Expert Reviews says the A1’s IP67 protection is not quite as high as the Flip 7’s IP68 rating.
- Cheaper: price The A1 costs far more than WIRED’s favorite JBL alternative.
JBL Xtreme 4
- Better: size and outright performance The Xtreme 4 is described as superior and much larger while costing less.
- Better: output and scale The larger, cheaper Xtreme 4 is said to outperform the A1 on outright wireless performance.
FAQ
Does the Beosound A1 3rd Gen sound big for its size?
Yes, reviewers repeatedly praised its rich bass, clear mids, and detail for a compact speaker. Several still noted that it cannot match the scale or maximum output of larger rivals.
Is the Beosound A1 3rd Gen worth the price?
It depends on what you value. Reviews praised the premium build, sound, app, and longevity, but several also said cheaper JBL or Bose alternatives can offer better value or bigger sound.
How good is the battery life?
Battery life was one of the stronger consensus points. Multiple reviews found the 24-hour claim credible, and one older A1 review reported meeting or exceeding the rated life.
Does it support AirPlay or Wi-Fi streaming?
No. Review evidence specifically called out the lack of Wi-Fi and AirPlay as a limitation, especially for Apple users.
Can it be used for calls?
Yes. Reviews describe the speakerphone and microphone performance positively, with clear voice calls and a strong hands-free experience.
Is it rugged enough for outdoors?
It is waterproof and dust-rated, and reviewers praised outdoor use, sink tests, and beach or pool suitability. The caution is cosmetic durability: several reviews warned the aluminum can scuff or mark.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 3.3
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.6
Article Reviews
expertreviews.co.uk
- Review score
- 3.9
macworld.com
- Review score
- 4.0
whathifi.com
- Review score
- 3.6
architeg-prints.com
- Review score
- 4.6
techradar.com
- Review score
- 4.9
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