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.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- 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.
- Low latency with Android and iOS devices.
- Lacks low bass.
- 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.
- Well-built, portable design.
- 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.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Well-built, portable design.
- Incredible soundstage performance.
- Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
- 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.
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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.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
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.
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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.
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 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.
Test Results
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