6 Best Ultimate Ears Speakers Compared: Which One Is for You?

The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom speaker is the brand’s latest release. It’s also their most massive one yet, standing at 14.33 inches with a base of 7.5 square inches. As you might expect, it is quite hefty, but you can easily transport the 13-pound speaker — thanks to its built-in handle. Plus, all that surface area means you get extra features that you don’t see in smaller UE speakers. These include an AUX input, optical audio input, and a USB port that allows your phone to charge as you’re playing music.

Besides its sheer size, the UE Hyperboom also packs quite a punch when it comes to loudness and bass. Inside it are two 1-inch tweeters, two 4.5-inch woofers, and two 3.5 x 7.5-inch passive radiators. The power of all of these drivers combined produces a sound that can go up to 100 decibels. Additionally, the Hyperboom has an adaptive EQ microphone that adjusts the sound balance according to the kind of space you’re in. Thus, you can transport it from one room to another without worrying about the sound quality dropping. To toggle the EQ settings, you can utilize the UE app that works with the audio device.

The UE Hyperboom also has an IPX4 rating, which means it’s resistant to small splashes of water. You can’t, however, take it to the pool with you. Nonetheless, the Hyperboom has the longest battery life (24 hours) out of the current Ultimate Ears speaker lineup. Of course, how far into your listening session (or house party) it lasts still depends on how you use it. Unfortunately, this Ultimate Ears speaker can’t connect to Wi-Fi, so you can’t use it to summon Alexa or any other virtual assistant. That said, it is Bluetooth-enabled with a range of up to 45m.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to size. It’s the smallest out of the current Ultimate Ears speaker lineup; it’s only approximately 4 inches around and weighs less than a pound. Plus, it’s the most budget-friendly option out of all of them. That said, the Wonderboom 2 is still decently loud and bassy. It packs in two 1.5-inch active drivers and two 1.8 x 2.6-inch passive radiators. In standard mode, it can go as loud as 86 decibels. But if you want to take it outdoors, you can switch on Outdoor Boost mode. With this mode on, you can play your music a decibel higher at peak volume. It also lowers the bass while amplifying the treble, so you still get well-balanced, crisp, and layered audio even at maximum volume.

While this Ultimate Ears speaker isn’t as loud as its alternatives, you can pair it with another Wonderboom 2 or Wonderboom speaker for a more sophisticated, true wireless stereo sound. The Wonderboom 2 doesn’t come equipped with a customizable EQ, though, unlike other UE speakers. That said, it does have IP67-rated protection. That means it’s dust-resistant, and you can submerge it in a meter of water for up to half an hour without worrying about damage. It’s also floatable and built to withstand 5ft drops.

With the tough built-in loop, you can easily hook it onto your backpack with a carabiner and take your music with you anywhere. Plus, it has a battery life that lasts up to 13 hours, which is 30% longer than the original UE Wonderboom. The speaker also touts 30m wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. However, just like the Hyperboom, the UE Wonderboom 2 can’t connect to Wi-Fi and doesn’t support virtual assistants.

From here on out, the UE speakers in this guide will all look very similar. But make no mistake — each of them still has their unique charm. For instance, while the Boom 3 does have the classic cylindrical UE design, it sports a more seamless look than the Blast and the Megablast speakers. Plus, it has a Magic Button at the top, which allows you to directly skip, play, and pause tracks on the speaker.

The UE Boom 3 is also the only Ultimate Ears speaker in the current lineup that you can customize the look of. It has a two-tone fabric cover that’s made from the same material as motorcycle jackets, so you can expect that it’s tough as nails. Inside are two 2-inch drivers, as well as two 2 x 4-inch passive radiators that deliver balanced and crystal-clear audio at whichever volume level you select. It also produces rich bass, a 90-decibel maximum sound level, and spatial 360-degree stereophonic sound. On top of that, it’s compatible with the UE companion app, so you can easily customize the equalizer and pair more than 150 other Boom 3, Megaboom 3, and Hyperboom speakers for a more immersive listening experience.

It’s also the perfect Ultimate Ears speaker if you’re looking for something extremely durable. It’s built to withstand all sorts of impact from drops and tumbles, and the buttons stay put no matter how hard or how many times you push them. The UE Boom 3 has IP67 protection as well, making it more durable than the Boom 2. Plus, the battery life of this speaker is very reliable and can last up to 15 hours of typical use.

The UE Boom 3 is Bluetooth-enabled and has a range of 46m. However, it doesn’t have support for Wi-Fi or virtual assistants.

The Boom 3 and the Megaboom 3 share the same release date, but they do have several differences between them. For one, the Megaboom 3 is slightly taller, wider, and heavier than the Boom 3. That said, it’s still lightweight and portable, and there’s a built-in hang loop that allows you to attach it to your bag.

The Megaboom 3’s drivers are different as well. In it, there are two 2-inch and 4-ohm full-range drivers, as well as two 2.2 x 3.4-inch passive radiators. With a max sound level of 90 decibels, it can go just as loud as the Boom 3. However, it is a lot bassier, and it offers a frequency range of 60Hz to 20kHz. The Megaboom 3 delivers 360-degree sound as well, giving it an all-around open and spacious soundstage. Plus, with the UE app, you can customize the equalizer and choose among four different audio presets. Like the Boom 3, the Megaboom 3 lets you use the Power Up feature of the companion app to pair it with more than 150 other UE speakers — all for an Earth-shattering wall of sound.

The Megaboom 3 has a Bluetooth range of 45m, which is a bit less than that of the Boom 3. However, it does last longer and has a battery life of up to 20 hours. And if it runs out of juice, you can easily dock it onto the Power Up wireless charger so that you can recharge your speaker even when you’re on the go. It’s also built to last long, as proven by its IP67-rated protection and the numerous durability tests that it has undergone and passed. Sadly, just like most of the other UE speakers on this list, it’s not compatible with Wi-Fi or virtual assistants.

The Blast has been around since 2017, but it’s still one of the best UE speakers around. It delivers the same maximum loudness as the Megaboom 3 and the Boom 3 at 90 decibels. It also has decent bass, but it’s not as full-bodied as the Hyperboom or the Megaboom 3. The UE Blast has two 1.4-inch active drivers and two 3.2 x 1.5-inch passive radiators, which, all together, produce a frequency range of 90Hz to 20kHz, just like the Boom 3.

The UE Blast’s sound quality and balance are phenomenal, just as you would expect from any Ultimate Ears speaker. If you want to amp up the volume, you can pair it with multiple Blast or Megablast speakers. Its cylindrical design allows it to deliver spatial 360-degree audio as well. However, you can’t customize its EQ with the UE app.

The Blast is one of only two Ultimate Ears speakers that’s Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-enabled, which means you can play music directly from the cloud or music streaming service. It also comes built-in with Alexa, although the integration isn’t as seamless as you’d hope. Still, it’s useful for controlling your music hands-free, checking the weather, controlling your smart home devices, and more — all without the need for Echo or Dot. Plus, it can also fairly easily detect when you’re speaking, thanks to its multiple mics with noise cancellation technology. It also has a Wi-Fi range of 100m and a Bluetooth range of 45m.

In terms of battery life, though, the UE Blast falls behind other UE speakers since it only lasts up to 12 hours. That said, it’s still as water- and dust-resistant as the other UE speakers, thanks to the IP67-rated protection it offers. Furthermore, it won’t get damaged easily due to 1m-high drops.

The Megablast is the Blast’s big and strong brother. At full volume, it can reach 93 decibels, making it the second loudest Ultimate Ears speaker in the current lineup. It features an intensely rich 360-degree soundstage, which you’ll find in other UE speakers as well. As compared to the Blast, its drivers are slightly bigger: it incorporates pairs of 2.2-inch drivers and 3.3 x 2.2-inch radiators. There are two 1-inch tweeters too, which the Hyperboom also integrates. With all of these drivers, the Megablast can produce a sound that’s not only loud and bassy but crisp and layered as well. Since it’s compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, you can customize the EQ to your liking with just a few taps.

If you’re having a house party and you feel like the music isn’t loud enough, you can pair the Megablast with one or several other Blast or Megablast speakers for an even more blaring and heart-pounding music listening experience. Its battery life is longer than that of the UE Blast and can last up to 16 hours. Plus, it supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can play music from your favorite streaming apps (like Deezer and Spotify) directly from the speaker. It has the same Wi-Fi and Bluetooth range as the UE Blast: 100m and 45m, respectively.

Just like the UE Blast, the Megablast is built-in with Alexa, but you might want to use your Echo or Dot instead if you want a less finicky integration. It also has far-field voice recognition that makes hands-free media control seamless. Aside from that, this Ultimate Ears speaker is rated IP67, so it’s resistant to dust, and you can take it with you to the pool.

Why Choose Ultimate Ears Speakers?