Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen review

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen is the premium design pick. Bang & Olufsen pairs pearl-blasted anodized aluminum with a waterproof leather strap, and the speaker weighs 576 g. Inside, two 30 W class D amplifiers drive the tweeter and woofer for 60 W total, with a 54 to 20,000 Hz frequency range and a maximum of 92 dB SPL at 1 m. The company rates battery playtime at up to 24 hours, with about 3 hours to recharge. It is IP67 rated and works as a speakerphone through a three-microphone array. Bluetooth 5.1 supports aptX Adaptive and AAC, multipoint for 2 devices, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and Made for iPhone. Two A1s, including a 2nd Gen, can play in stereo. B&O says it is designed to be serviced rather than replaced, with up to 5 years of Beocare warranty. At $399 it costs as much as the larger Bose Max, so value scores low.

Who it is for

Design-focused buyers who want a premium speaker that is built to be serviced and lasts for years.

Price

$399 at Bang & Olufsen's US store when checked.

Eucalyptus Green $399 Free express delivery
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.

Key features

• Up to 24 hours of battery playtime
• Two 30 W class D amplifiers, 60 W total
• IP67 dust and waterproof rating
• aptX Adaptive and AAC over Bluetooth 5.1, multipoint for 2 devices
• Three-microphone array for calls

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Stereo pairs with both 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen A1 speakers
• Strength: Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and Made for iPhone
• Strength: Up to 5 years of warranty through Beocare
• Weakness: $399 is the joint highest price on the list
• Weakness: Bluetooth 5.1 is older than rivals' 5.3 to 6.0
• Weakness: Rated for rooms up to 300 sq ft, smaller than the Bose

Key facts

• Battery: Up to 24 hours, about 3-hour charge
• Water and dust: IP67
• Weight: 576 g
• Amplifier: 60 W total
• Codecs: aptX Adaptive, AAC

Where it ranks

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen is No. 9 in our Best Bluetooth Speakers verdict.