Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen: Premium Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

Experience enhanced bass and longer battery life with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen, the best portable Bluetooth speaker for true audiophiles.

Introduction: A Longtime Favorite Gets Even Better

Having used the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 first and second generations portable Bluetooth speaker for years, I was genuinely excited to get my hands on the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen portable Bluetooth speaker. This latest model boosts bass performance and offers extended battery life, making it an even more compelling option for portable audio lovers.

I’ve always believed that the Beosound A1 is the best portable Bluetooth speaker out there — simply because it is truly portable. Naturally, I took the 3rd Gen with me on a vacation, testing it out in hotel rooms from Dublin to New York, and later enjoyed it in my backyard once I was home.

Of course, this market segment is highly competitive, and many rivals come at much lower prices. But if you want a luxurious, well-crafted speaker with outstanding sound quality, trust me — the Beosound A1 3rd Gen proves the saying right: third time’s the charm.

Price and Availability

You can purchase the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen portable Bluetooth speaker directly from Bang & Olufsen’s official website. It launched on May 6, 2025.

The official price is set at $349 for any of the three available colors: Natural Aluminium, Honey Tone, or Eucalyptus Green.

What’s New in the 3rd Gen?

Visually, the 3rd Gen looks very similar to the 2nd generation, but subtle differences become apparent when you place them side by side. Although the size is nearly the same, the depth is slightly reduced. The machined round holes in the upper aluminum section are smaller and neater than before.

The product is also slightly elevated from the surface it rests on, a design tweak aimed at acoustic improvement. The fabric handle on the side of the rubberized base now sports a smaller, tidier metal B&O emblem.

The key improvements include stronger bass output, longer battery life, fresh color options, enhanced repairability, and a five-year warranty. Impressively, it also received the Cradle to Cradle Bronze certification, recognizing responsible resource use and recyclability.

Design and Portability

What I truly love about the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is its portability (yes, I know I’m repeating myself). It measures just 13.3 cm in diameter — smaller than a dessert plate — roughly the size of a compact disc (remember those?), but thicker at 4.6 cm.

This makes it incredibly easy to carry around. I could easily slip it into the side pocket of my backpack. Alternatively, you can attach the carry handle to your bag, saving space inside.

However, like previous models, the anodized aluminum finish with a pearl texture is prone to scratches and attracts marks from contact with other objects. Since there’s no case included, it may lose its pristine look pretty quickly after some use.

That said, you don’t always need it to look brand new. This device carries an IP67 rating, meaning it’s dustproof and waterproof — you could even drop it in a pond up to a meter deep for half an hour, and it would still come out undamaged and fully functional.

Weighing 576 grams, it’s not the lightest speaker in this size category — about as heavy as carrying three smartphones — but it feels substantial. This weight likely reflects the premium components inside, which also contributes to the speaker’s rich sound.

Controls are conveniently placed on the sides, including play/pause, volume up/down, power, Bluetooth, and microphone buttons. There’s also a companion app for sound customization and control, accessible whether it’s open or running in the background.

Sound Quality and Battery Life

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen isn’t a true 360-degree sound speaker, and I don’t mind one bit. It’s easy to position it on a table, at an angle, or hang it from something nearby, and you’ll get the best audio experience when facing the front.

Inside, it houses one 82-mm woofer and one 15-mm tweeter, powered by two 30-watt amplifiers. This tiny package can pump out surprisingly loud volumes, and even when cranked up, it manages vibrations on nearby surfaces without distorting the sound.

What truly amazes me is the depth of bass for such a small speaker. Nothing else I’ve seen or heard in this size-to-power ratio comes close, which is a big reason it’s my favorite portable speaker.

By default, the bass isn’t overblown but clean and concise. The app features a draggable sound circle with poles ranging from Bright to Warm, and Relaxed to Energetic, allowing you to balance bass and treble effortlessly — no fiddly multi-band equalizer.

Beware, though: it’s possible to overdo the bass, depending on your music. A light touch makes everything sound expansive, warm, and wonderfully full-bodied — far bolder than you’d imagine for such a compact speaker.

The speaker covers sound frequencies from 54 Hz, delivering real bass, up to 20 kHz for crisp highs. Midrange can become a bit muffled or dull at sharp angles, reinforcing the importance of positioning.

It supports the aptX Adaptive codec, indicating a Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound chip inside, promising top-notch audio quality, although the maximum bitrate isn’t specified.

Battery life is impressive. After several hours of use during testing, the charge dropped to only 65%, as displayed in the app. The advertised 24-hour battery life seems spot on, and playing at louder volumes doesn’t appear to drain the battery quickly.

Final Verdict

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen portable Bluetooth speaker takes the crown as my favorite portable Bluetooth speaker, improving on its already stellar appearance, bass power, and battery life. It’s a win-win.

Sure, the Bluetooth speaker market is flooded with options. But if you want a genuinely portable speaker that’s exquisitely crafted and offers sound quality beyond its size, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen stands alone.

Bang & Olufsen has again crafted the perfect portable speaker. Even if you own the 2nd Gen model, upgrading to the 3rd Gen is worth it — you can pair both models for stereo sound and double the audio quality.

Other Options to Consider

Despite its brilliance, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is now pricier than the 2nd Gen, which still holds up well. If budget is a concern, the older model is a solid buy.

If you want something a bit bigger, check out Bose’s SoundLink Max portable Bluetooth speaker, a pill-shaped portable speaker with a carrying handle in a similar price range. Or, if your budget is tighter, the JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker is smaller and more affordable.

Bang & Olufsen once again created the perfect portable speaker — a true blend of style, durability, and sound. – Reviewer

FAQs

• What colors are available for the Beosound A1 3rd Gen?
  It comes in Natural Aluminium, Honey Tone, and Eucalyptus Green.
• Is the Beosound A1 3rd Gen waterproof?
  Yes, it has an IP67 rating, meaning it is both dustproof and waterproof.
• How long does the battery last on a single charge?
  The speaker offers up to 24 hours of playback, depending on volume levels.
• Can the sound be customized?
  Yes, through the app with an intuitive sound profile that balances brightness and warmth.
• Does it support high-quality Bluetooth codecs?
  It supports aptX Adaptive codec, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound technology.

Love music and design? Shop your favorite album cover poster at our store to complement your audio setup: Architeg Prints.