Bose Smart Soundbar review

The Bose Smart Soundbar brings the headline feature of the Smart Ultra, A.I. Dialogue Mode, to a shorter and lighter bar. Bose lists five speakers plus a center tweeter in a cabinet 27.34 inches wide and 2.21 inches high, with Dolby Atmos decoding and TrueSpace processing that gives non-Atmos content a wider effect. It has built-in voice control with two microphones, works with the Bose app, and streams over WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0. Both an HDMI cable and an optical cable are in the box, so it fits newer and older TVs, and the remote comes with its battery. Bose suggests it for rooms of about 10 by 12 feet. The comparison with its bigger sibling is the main question: the Smart Ultra adds ADAPTiQ calibration, more speakers and a wider bar, and on its current sale it costs only $130 more. If space is tight, the Smart Soundbar is the better fit; if not, the Ultra is the better buy.

Who it is for

Viewers with smaller TVs or rooms who want Bose's AI dialogue mode in a shorter bar.

Price

$549.00 on the Bose US store.

Price is: $549.00
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• A.I. Dialogue Mode
• Dolby Atmos with Bose TrueSpace
• Built-in voice control and the Bose app
• HDMI and optical cables included
• WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 music streaming

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The same AI dialogue mode as the Smart Ultra in a 27 inch bar
• Strength: Both HDMI and optical cables are in the box
• Strength: Can group with other Bose speakers for multi-room audio
• Weakness: No ADAPTiQ room calibration, unlike the Smart Ultra
• Weakness: Currently $130 less than the Smart Ultra on sale, a small gap
• Weakness: Bass module costs extra

Key facts

• Price: $549.00
• Speakers: 5 plus center tweeter
• Size: 2.21 x 27.34 x 4.09 in, 6.91 lb
• Dialogue control: A.I. Dialogue Mode

Where it ranks

Bose Smart Soundbar is No. 6 in our Best Soundbars verdict.