Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Review

The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is the follow-up to the Ultimate Ears Boom 2 and has a similar design and some similar features like 360° sound and the same 15 hours of playtime. UE Boom 3 has an IP67 dust and waterproof and floatable build; boom 3 maximum output power is 90 watts, which is incredibly impressive within this size, delivering powerful sound and thundering bass.

In terms of pricing and specs, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 competes with the JBL Charge 4, which has an IPX7 waterproof rating, 5 hours more play time, and a USB-C charging connector. The Charge 4 also boasts Dual passive radiators and can be connected to more than 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers.

If you’re up to spending more for a longer playtime of 20 hours and an output port to charge up your phone, try JBL CHARGE 5 (the price is around $139). But if your budget is around $100, then Boom 3 is a considerable choice with features like customizable EQ and the ability to connect up to 150 Ultimate Ears speakers. It also offers a high-quality audio experience with powerful bass. The UE Boom 3 costs around $149, but right now, it is on sale for 26%, which makes it $111.

Design of Ultimate Ears Boom 3:

The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 weighs 925 grams and measures 22.5 x 8.7 CM. It is a compact, lightweight, and floatable outdoor speaker available in red, purple, blue, and black colors. The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is known for superb build quality. The speaker is very compact and lightweight that it can easily fit into backpack ready for any trip. Additionally, its top and bottom have rubber, which makes it drop-proof (up to 5 feet tested). UE Boom 3 has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating and a floatable feature, so you don’t have to worry about pool party fun and bringing it to the beach.

Control of Ultimate Ears Boom 3:

On the front of the speaker, there are 2 very visible buttons (+ , – ) which control the volume level of the speaker. You can press both volume buttons at once to get audible feedback on the battery level, but unfortunately, there’s no way to know the volume level. However, there is no way to figure out the volume level on which the speaker is currently playing.

On top side of Boom 3 speaker there is a button UE calls it Magic Button, which lets you play/pause, skip music tracks, or play music from your playlist of streaming app. In addition, there is a power button to On/Off the speaker.

Sound of Ultimate Ears Boom 3:

In terms of sound quality Boom 3 has similar speaker setup like its previous generation Boom 2. Boom 3 features two 2 inch active drivers and 4 inch passive radiators which delivers spatial 360° crystal clear audio. Well it is a outdoor speaker with a powerful sound projection and mid-forward sound signature that enhances vocals and specific instruments. It maintains clarity at high volumes, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings. The companion app also offers sound customization. There are graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears app.

Connectivity of Ultimate Ears Boom 3:

The UE Boom 3 has very stable Bluetooth connectivity and very low latency. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature NFC for fast pairing and doesn’t have AUX or USB input.

Battery life of Ultimate Ears Boom 3:

Ultimate Ears advertises that this speaker has a playtime of 15 hours, but the unit we tested lasts 14 hours and 10 minutes. It also depends on how you use the speaker. Well, it is good for outdoor use in daylight. It also features wireless charging, but the wireless pad is sold separately, and unfortunately, the wireless pad also uses microUSB. The speaker also features power saving mode, which turns the speaker automatically off if not in use for 15 minutes.

Conclusion:

Similar to the previous generation, Boom 3 has improvements in Bluetooth stability. Overall, it is ultra-portable and has a very good soundstage. Connectivity is satisfying. The dust and waterproof feature makes it the best portable speaker for outdoor adventures, and the cluster feature makes it best for larger gatherings.

What should you go for instead of Boom 3?

The JBL Charge 4 (check at Amazon) is a good alternative to Boom 3. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating, a very sleek and portable design, outstanding sound performance, 20 hours of playtime, and the ability to connect with more than 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers for stereo sound. Charge 4 also features a built-in power bank so you can charge your other electronic gadgets via a USB-C connector.

If you want to spend $10 more for good-quality sound, try Tribit StormBox Pro (check at Amazon). It is a little bulkier than Boom 3 but has a 3-inch neodymium subwoofer with XBass technology to enhance low frequencies in real-time. Additionally, it has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating and 24 hours of listening time.

And if you are comfortable with a little big size speaker at the same price, then you should try Anker Soundcore Boom 2 ($109 at Amazon), with 80w powerful output thundering bass, 24H Playtime, IPX7 Waterproof rating, floatable feature, RGB music sync lights, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and built-in power bank.