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Brandt Ranj
Back in 2013, Ultimate Ears dropped its first Bluetooth wireless speaker, the UE Boom. It was roughly the size of a tallboy of Arizona iced tea, and it set a high-water mark for other portable Bluetooth speaker manufacturers. Thanks to its cylindrical design, it pumped out loud, clear, punchy sound in every direction for the duration of its impressive battery life. It wasn’t fully waterproof, but it was weather resistant, which made it one of, if not the best, when it comes to outdoor Bluetooth speakers. Since then, Ultimate Ears has refined and expanded its line of portable party machines. The original Boom is on its fourth iteration, the aptly named UE Boom 4. The Ultimate Ears speaker family now includes the pint-sized but powerful UE Wonderboom 4 (one of the best overall choices for on-the-go audio) and goes all the way up to the monolithic Hyperboom.
We’ve laid hands—and ears—on the full line of Ultimate Ears products and have never been disappointed. But, when it comes to choosing the best UE speaker, comparison shopping is essential. We’ve broken down the different models and done some handy side-by-sides to help you get the best Ulitmate Ears speaker to fit your needs.
Ultimate Ears speaker comparison
With a variety of models in the current UE speaker lineup, it can be tricky to navigate the options. Here’s a brief overview of each model to point out the most relevant features. The list runs from smallest to largest in both size and price.
UE Wonderboom 4 $99.99 (or less)
Ultimate Ears’ Wonderboom series of speakers has impressed us for the past seven years, and it’s continued that trend with its latest model, the Wonderboom 4. The speaker retains the same shape, audio hardware, durability, and price as previous models while introducing USB-C charging and a dedicated “podcast” audio mode for spoken word content.
The Wonderboom’s IP67 durability rating signifies it’s dustproof and waterproof to the extent that the speaker can be fully submerged under water for 30 minutes without being damaged. We submerged it for roughly that amount of time, and the Wonderboom 4 was no worse for wear. If you need an ultra-portable speaker to take poolside or by the shower, you’re good. This durability is complemented by an audio system that can play music in true stereo (albeit with little stereo separation) thanks to a pair of 40mm drivers and radiators, which help it attain excellent bass performance.
In our tests, which included listening to music from Miles Davis to Sabrina Carpenter, the Wonderboom 4 was consistent in presenting the tracks with a fair amount of balance. Sonic abnormalities like sibilance or blown-out bass were nowhere to be found. Your experience will vary based on how the tracks you listened to were mastered. The Wonderboom 4 can’t get as loud as Ultimate Ears’ bigger speakers—as you’d suspect—but it pumped out enough to thoroughly fill a mid-sized room or small patio. If you want to get better stereo separation (and cover more ground), you can pair two Wonderboom 4s together, at which point each speaker will act as a right and left channel for the same track.
The Wonderboom 4 allows you to switch between its default EQ mode, an “outdoor mode” that boosts its top volume from 86dB (decibels) to 87dB, and a “podcast” mode that boosts vocal frequencies. You can swap between the modes by pressing a button with a tree-shaped glyph on the speaker’s underside. In our test there was an audible difference between the modes, but we found the default EQ mode sounded best regardless of what we listened to. On the topic of buttons, the giant “+” and “-” volume adjustment buttons on the speaker’s face made it easy to turn our tunes up and down without even looking at them.
As we mentioned earlier, the Wonderboom 4 adopts a USB-C charging port, which has become the standard for most consumer electronics, from smartphones and tablets to laptops and portable game consoles. The move away from MicroUSB ports is welcome. Thankfully, you won’t have to think about charging that often, as the speaker can last up to 14 hours per charge, depending on your volume level. All of this technology is impressive for a speaker that costs just under $100 and weighs a little under a pound. If you want the best all-around value in Ultimate Ears’ lineup, it’s hard to beat the Wonderboom 4.
Want something with even more … boom? Scroll down to the step-up, the still handheld Everboom, or look into the Wonderboom 4’s much bigger brother, the Epicboom—a big, bassy, shockproof, dustproof, waterproof device that can also be immersed in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
UE Boom 4 $149.99 (or less)
Evolved from the original UE Boom, the Boom 4 has a massive Bluetooth connectivity range of up to 150 feet in the form factor that first established Ultimate Ears speakers. It promises 15 hours of battery life and sports a pair of UE’s signature giant “plus” and “minus” buttons for easy volume control. Unlike the original Boom, the UE Boom 4 is IPX7, totally waterproof, so it can blast “Barbie Girl” by Aqua while underwater for maximum irony. And you can further shape the frequency response via the UE app, featuring four preset EQ modes + customizable EQ—a sonic step up from the Wonderboom 4.
UE Megaboom 4 $199.99 (or less)
At roughly 3 lbs., the powerful UE Megaboom 4 speaker pumps more volume and burlier bass than its smaller siblings. Sadly, however, that means it probably won’t fit in your car’s cup holder or your electric commuter bike’s water bottle cage as easily. It does offer up to 20 hours of battery life and it’s compatible with UE’s Power Up charging dock, so you can set it down and let it juice up when not in use. With an IP67 rating, it’s ready for a beach towel or a pool party, and it can pair with other members of the UE family through the PartyUp feature.
UE Everboom $249.99 (or less)
The Everboom is Ultimate Ears’ latest mid-sized speaker, launched in 2024 as an aesthetic and technical complement to the larger Epicboom (shown below), just packed in a more easily handheld package. It has the same IP67 durability rating as Ultimate Ears’ other current-generation speakers—which means it’s dustproof and waterproof—and a dual-driver audio system that’s complemented by a pair of passive radiators. While it’s larger than the petite Wonderboom 4, a carabiner (included) allows you to hook it onto the loop of a backpack for hands-free portability.
The speaker also retains the company’s trademark look, which features large volume control buttons on its front side and a textured body that’s easy to grip even when wet. A button on top of the speaker allows you to switch between different EQ modes, including one specifically designed to boost its maximum volume level for outdoor use and another for boosting vocal frequencies when listening to spoken word content.
Returning to the Everboom’s impressive audio system, Ultimate Ears didn’t skimp out on optimizing the speaker’s 360-degree sound. The speaker sounds phenomenal, given its size, and there’s no narrow “sweet spot” you need to stand in for the best experience. Pro tip: Placing the speaker in the middle of an area rather than against the wall will allow its drivers to distribute the sound more evenly and yield the best results.
If you have additional current or precious-generation Ultimate Ears speakers, you can use the company’s mobile app to connect dozens of them to create a wireless multi-room sound system. This is particularly helpful if you’re hosting a party outdoors and want guests to continue to hear the same song as they move from inside to outside. The Boom app also allows you to use your smartphone’s mic to speak over the music like a DJ.
It’s hard for us to find any legitimate faults with the Everboom as it’s a great happy medium between Wonderboom 4 and Epicboom. If you don’t want a speaker that’s too big or too small, this one will be just right.
UE Epicboom $299.99 (or less)
After years of iteration, Ultimate Ears returned to inspiration in 2023 for its latest wireless waterproof speaker. We’re big fans of the ultra-portable Wonderboom 4—it’s our best overall pick for a shower speaker, but it has the exact same design as its two predecessors. The Epicboom, however, stands out from all but one of UE’s other Bluetooth speakers.
It still has all the hallmarks of the family—oversized, embossed +/- volume buttons and 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester fabric—but it’s as if someone took the starter for a Boom and decided there were enough rolls and baguettes, let’s make a loaf. Also, let’s put a USB-C charging port (finally) in that loaf because nobody likes the flavor of microUSB anymore.
The Epicboom’s larger frame leaves it room for a 4.6-inch woofer and two 1.7-inch mid-high frequency transducers (as well as a big enough battery to provide 17 hours of continuous music listening). The placement of those two tweeters on the oval’s shoulders lets it claim spacious 360-degree sound. And the additional internal acoustic volume means plenty of bass—down to 50Hz and up to 95dB of portable party in optional “Outdoor Boost” EQ mode, which pushes the mids/highs for extended open-air clarity. This is aided by app sound profiles or Adaptive EQ that adjusts for the environment.
A nylon lanyard, anchored flat by a magnetized cap when not in use, makes this speaker easier to bring along than some of its smaller siblings. Its IP67 durability rating means you can toss it directly in the pool when you arrive (don’t worry, it floats), offering yet another waterproof pick in the UE lineup. While the Epicboom doesn’t have the Wi-Fi-enabled smart features of the simultaneously announced Sonos Move 2, it’s substantially cheaper, offers 180 feet of cross-platform connectivity, and can be grouped with other Boom speakers if you want to up the party.
It may be pricey for the brand, but you’re getting a very well-rounded speaker with design features that make it last a long time without being cumbersome to carry.
UE Hyperboom $399.99 (or less)
This massive UE speaker stands more than 14 inches tall with a base that’s more than 7.5 inches around. All that body gives the UE Hyperboom enough room for features you won’t find in any other Ultimate Ears speaker, including a USB port, an optical audio in, and an auxiliary headphone jack. It’s not as waterproof as other UE speakers, so don’t throw it in the pool, but it does boast up to 24 hours of battery life and sound output that towers over the rest of the lineup in both bass levels and overall volume. If you’re looking for a loud Bluetooth speaker, this is your pal. The built-in handle also makes its substantial 13-pound heft easier to lug around.
What makes UE Bluetooth speakers so appealing?
Ultimate Ears has been building out its UE Bluetooth speaker line for over a decade. In that time, it has streamlined and smoothed out the UE app, which adds some clever functionality to its speakers. All the current speakers except for the pint-sized Wonderboom 4 can access an equalizer function that allows listeners to tweak the overall sound performance.
The app also facilitates pairing two speakers together for true stereo sound. The Boom 4, Megaboom 4, Everboom, Epicboom, and Hyperboom all connect interchangeably. In fact, the app allows listeners to connect up to 150 UE speakers simultaneously in case you want to build a wall of sound or make a really impressive TikTok. The Wonderboom 4, however, requires another unit of the same model for stereo pairing.
Ultimate Ears speaker comparison: Design
Since the original Boom debuted, UE has made some of the best-looking Bluetooth speakers around. They don’t have the built-in light show that companies like Sony and JBL typically include with their portable speakers, but all the devices in the current UE lineup share an iconic outer layer of woven fabric plus a design that centers around two oversized volume buttons. The Hyperboom only comes in black, but the Boom 4, Megaboom 4, and Wonderboom 4 all come in a variety of colors.
Which UE Bluetooth speaker is best for you?
UE hasn’t produced a truly bad-sounding speaker yet, which makes this Ultimate Ears speaker comparison fairly simple. For its $99 price, the Wonderboom 4 is compact and easy to carry—and a perpetual inclusion in the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 (and just the best Bluetooth speakers in general).
If you’re OK with something a little less palm-friendly, the UE Everboom will suit the needs of most people. With up to 20 hours of battery life and plenty of audio oomph to fill a large room or even a typical yard, it’s a very safe bet. If you’re trying to fill a larger space, the UE Epicboom’s extra power and presence may come in handy; just remember that it also brings a larger size and heavier weight.
The Hyperboom provides the best sound, but it’s also massive. Don’t expect to throw it in a backpack or for it to subtly blend into your decor. Set it in your living room, and you’d half expect apes to start worshipping it like the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey. (That’s compared to other Bluetooth party speakers, of course.) The Hyperboom has enough output and bass to provide an alternative for people who would otherwise consider a larger PA speaker for their outdoor get-togethers, which might be overkill. If you have a massive space to crank tunes—or very understanding neighbors—then the Hyperboom might be the best portable Bluetooth speaker for you.
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