The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with a built-in hook so you can hang it from your bag or backpack when you're on the go. It's small and lightweight, and it has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Unfortunately, its out-of-the-box sound profile is a bit uneven, and it doesn't get very loud. However, you can use the graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears app to help adjust its sound to your liking.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is passable for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a bass-heavy sound profile, though it struggles to reproduce thumpy low-bass, which can be disappointing if you love bass-heavy genres like EDM. Vocals and lead instruments are present thanks to the neutral mid-range, but they can also sound a bit dull or veiled. Fortunately, you can customize its sound to your liking using the graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears app.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Lacks low bass.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is mediocre for videos and movies. While dialogue is clear due to its balanced mid-range, it can also sound a bit dark or dull due to the underemphasized treble. Also, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low bass, so you don't really feel the deep rumbles in action-packed scenes. It doesn't get very loud, though audio reproduction is clear at max volume. That said, it has low latency with Android and iOS devices over Bluetooth, though some apps compensate for this differently.
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Low latency with Android and iOS devices.
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Lacks low bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is decent for podcasts. Dialogue is present and clear thanks to its balanced mid-range, though it may also sound a bit dark and dull. It doesn't get very loud, either. Fortunately, there's an EQ available in the Ultimate Ears app to help you customize its sound to your liking. Also, its portable design makes it easy to bring with you from room to room.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 doesn't have voice assistant support.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is good for outdoor use. This amazingly well-built speaker has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Since it's battery-powered, it's very portable, and it even has a built-in hook so you can attach it to your bag or backpack. Also, its 360-degree design helps create an open, spacious soundstage, so you feel immersed in your audio from all angles. However, it doesn't get very loud, which can be disappointing.
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IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Incredible soundstage performance.
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Doesn't get very loud.
- 6.4 Music
- 6.1 Videos/Movies
- 7.2 Podcasts
- 3.0 Voice Assistant
- 7.7 Outdoors
- Updated Sep 30, 2024: We've updated the Build Quality box to clarify that this speaker does have an IP67 rating against dust and water damage.
- Updated Sep 27, 2024: The Battery section has been updated to mention the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4.
- Updated Sep 22, 2022: Added comparison to Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 in 'Battery' box.
- Updated Aug 03, 2022: Added comparison to Bushnell Wingman speaker in 'Portability' box.
- Updated Aug 19, 2021: We've updated the results for 'Stereo Pair Mode' from 'No' to 'Yes'.
- Updated Apr 15, 2021: Updated text to reflect that the speaker has an advertised IP6X rating for dust resistance.
- Updated Feb 24, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Feb 19, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Feb 10, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 05, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 comes in lots of different color variants, including 'Night Black,' 'Dusk,' 'Lagoon Blue,' 'Jungle Grey,' 'Sunset Red,' 'Ultraviolet Purple,' 'Peach,' 'Green,' and 'Unicorn.' We've tested the 'Night Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you encounter another version of the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, let us know in the comments so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that comes in lots of different color variants. Its built-in hook makes it easy to bring with you on the go, and it's floatable with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, it doesn't get very loud, and it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low bass out-of-the-box. Fortunately, the graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears app makes it easy to adjust its sound to your liking.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best shower speakers.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Flip 6. The Ultimate Ears has a fantastic immersive, open-sounding soundstage. It gets as loud as the JBL with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. It also has a longer-lasting battery life making it better suited for long listening sessions. However, the JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and can produce a more extended low bass. It's a bit smaller in size, and you can pair it to up to two devices at a time, so you can easily switch between audio sources.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are, by and large, the same speaker with one difference that will appeal to many users: the previous generation charges via a micro-USB cable and the new generation opts for USB-C charging instead. Beyond this, differences in performance are marginal at best. The newer iteration features slightly more bass (though it's still far from bass-heavy) and a less rolled-off treble. That said, it has a slightly shorter continuous battery life. Users who already own the BOOM 3 and aren't desperate for USB-C charging would be advised to hang on to their current speaker.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The MEGABOOM has a more balanced sound profile, though the extra boom in the high-bass may be overwhelming for some listeners. Also, it has a better build quality and a longer battery life. While they're both remarkably portable speakers, the BOOM is smaller, which some users may prefer. It also has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently.
Depending on your preferences, you may prefer either the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 or the JBL Charge 5. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has a wider and more open-sounding soundstage, thanks to its 360-degree design. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the JBL has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce more extended low-bass than the Ultimate Ears out of the box. It can also get slightly louder, though some compression at max volume may affect the clarity of your audio at louder volumes.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The WONDERBOOM 3 is more compact and easier to carry on the go. Its sound profile is more balanced overall and can produce a slightly more extended low bass. That said, the BOOM 3 is compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which gives you access to a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound to your liking. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The WONDERBOOM 2 is better-built, and it has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. It also has an 'Outdoor Boost' EQ that cuts the bass in the audio and amplifies vocals in the mix for when you're outside. However, the BOOM 3 has a companion app that offers a full graphic EQ and presets for greater sound customization.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Ultimate Ears is better built, and it's advertised as floatable. It also has a better soundstage performance, and it can play stereo content without having to downmix it to mono. While both speakers have companion apps, only the Ultimate Ears has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is slightly better than the Bose SoundLink Flex, though have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and its soundstage is perceived as wider and more open thanks to its 360-degree design. You can customize its sound with the graphic EQ in its companion app, and it has a longer-lasting battery life of over 13 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage habits. That said, the Bose offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper bass out-of-the-box. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone.
Depending on your preferences, you may like either the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 or the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. The Ultimate Ears is better built, gets louder, and has a longer battery life. Its soundstage performance is better, too. While it comes with a graphic EQ and presets, the Sonos has bass and treble adjustments. The Sonos has a more neutral sound out-of-the-box, and its Roam variant also supports voice assistants.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is better for most people than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. It's more portable yet reaches nearly the same max output as the BOOM 3, while the WONDERBOOM 4 retains dynamics better. It also uses a current USB-C charging port, and they have about the same battery life. On the other hand, the BOOM 3 has a custom EQ available through the app to tinker with the default sound, but its default sound is considerably less clear in the high-end.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a slightly better speaker than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 overall, though they're very similar. With its BassUp feature enabled, it has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass than the Ultimate Ears. It can also be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to switch between audio sources. That said, the Ultimate Ears offers a wider and more natural-sounding soundstage, thanks to its 360-degree design. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker for most uses than the JBL Flip 5. The Ultimate Ears is better built, gets louder with less compression, and has a longer battery life. Also, it has a better soundstage performance and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. While the JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, only the Ultimate Ears offers a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II or the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The Bose offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low bass than the Ultimate Ears. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone and can understand you from far and in noisier settings. The Ultimate Ears can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage. Its companion app also features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 and the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 are similar speakers, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears can get a bit louder with significantly less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It's better-built, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. That said, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 or the Bose SoundLink Revolve II. The Ultimate Ears is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured on its companion app. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. That said, the Bose offers a better-balanced and more neutral sound profile, making it better suited for listening to a wider variety of audio content. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, and does an excellent job of understanding your commands from far and in noisy environments.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST is a better speaker than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The MEGABLAST has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it also supports Wi-Fi connectivity. It also has built-in support for Alexa voice assistant over a Wi-Fi connection. However, the BOOM 3 has longer battery life.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears offers a much wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design. It can get louder with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It can also last over 13 hours from a single charge, though this can vary depending on your usage. That said, the Sony offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper bass than that of the Ultimate Ears. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Color II. The Ultimate Ears has a more spacious soundstage, and it can get slightly louder with less compression present at max volume. You can also customize its sound profile using the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app. However, only the Bose has voice assistant capabilities.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Bushnell Wingman overall. The Ultimate Ears can produce a more extended low-bass than the Bushnell. Its sound profile is also more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ and presets. It has a wider and more spacious-sounding soundstage too. That said, the Bushnell comes with golf-oriented features like its companion app which lets you record your scores, create statistics, and calculate distances on your golf course. There's a strong magnet on its rear too which you can use to secure it on the frame of your golf cart. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose SoundLink Revolve or the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. The Ultimate Ears is better-built, and it can play stereo content without having to downmix it to mono. It also has less compression when you play it at max volume, and it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. However, the Bose has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it supports voice assistants from your paired smartphone.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB33 overall. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more natural-sounding soundstage. It has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. It's also smaller and more portable than the Sony. That said, the Sony can produce a more extended low-bass than the Ultimate Ears. It can also support voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.
Test Results
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a small, cylindrical speaker meant to sit vertically. Its front face has very large and visible volume buttons, and there's a small built-in hook so you can attach it to your bag. It comes in many different color variants, so you can find one that suits your style.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Bluetooth Speaker is superbly portable. It's small and lightweight, so it's easy to carry with one hand. It's also battery-powered, so you can use it without having to plug it into an outlet. If you're looking for a similarly portable Bluetooth speaker to bring along with you on the golf course, check out the Bushnell Wingman, which has golf-oriented features.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has an amazing build quality. It has a rubber top and bottom, and there's tight fabric wrapping around the speaker, which doesn't seem like it would rip easily. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it's totally dust-resistant, and you can submerge it in water for up to 30 minutes. The manufacturer also claims it's drop-proof from a height of three feet.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has middling controls. On the front of the speaker, there are very visible volume buttons. There's also a "Magic" button on the top of the speaker, which lets you play/pause your music, skip to the next track, or launch a playlist set in the Ultimate Ears app. There's also a small Bluetooth pairing button on the top 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. You also can't use the controls to skip to the previous track.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has disappointing frequency response accuracy. It has a somewhat bass-heavy sound profile, though it struggles to reproduce a thumpy, rumbling low bass. Vocals and lead instruments are present, though they may also sound a bit dark or dull. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears app to help you customize its sound. For a similar speaker that has a more balanced sound profile, consider the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has a fantastic soundstage performance. It can play stereo content, and it has amazing directivity, so the soundstage is perceived as wide, large, and natural-sounding.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has a fair dynamics performance. While it doesn't get very loud, there aren't a lot of compression artifacts present at max volume, ensuring a clean and clear audio reproduction.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has superb battery performance. While it charges via a micro-USB cable, you can opt for the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 if you prefer a USB-C connection. It's advertised to last for fifteen hours off of a single charge, and while it only lasted for 13.7 hours in our testing, that's still incredible. It also has a power-saving feature that automatically shuts it off after fifteen minutes without audio, which can help conserve battery life. However, battery life varies depending on usage habits and chosen volume levels, so your experience may differ. For a portable Ultimate Ears speaker with even more impressive battery life, check out the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3.
This speaker doesn't support voice assistants. For a similar speaker with built-in support for Alexa over Wi-Fi, check out the Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST.
The Ultimate Ears app is very good. It comes with a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize the speaker's sound profile to your liking. You can also pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair through the 'Party Up' feature, though you can only do so with two speakers of the same model.
You can't use this speaker wired. It comes with a micro-USB cable, but that's just for charging the speaker.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has amazing Bluetooth connectivity. Thanks to its outstanding range, it can stay connected to your paired device even if it isn't very close to the speaker. It has very low latency with both iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching videos. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.