The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a cylindrical battery-powered speaker that follows in the footsteps of the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. It's still one of Ultimate Ears' most portable offerings, though this new iteration adds USB-C charging. Beyond this welcome addition, it's hard to see if there have been meaningful improvements when it comes to features. Lets see if there have been any tweaks under the hood that warrant an upgrade.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is okay for music. Its design means that it struggles to reproduce thumpy bass frequencies, which can leave something to be desired when blasting kick-heavy genres, like hip-hop and house. There's some roll-off in the treble range, too, that causes sibilants, like cymbals, to sound muffled and veiled. Thankfully, you have some scope for sound sculpting via the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app, though. As with other Ultimate Ears speakers, the BOOM 4's excellent directivity and stereo capabilities offer a compelling soundstage performance. It can get quite loud for its size, too, with minimal compression as you crank up the volume.
- Excellent directivity.
- Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
- Limited playback controls.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is acceptable for watching videos and movies. It can reach top volume without many compression artifacts that can impact audio quality, and its excellent directivity means you don't need to think too hard about positioning yourself relative to the speaker. Its balanced mid-range reproduction means dialogue is clear and detailed, too. Latency falls within good limits, though if you're watching while paired with an Android device, you'll be a little more susceptible to lip-sync issues. That said, the lack of bass presence can detract from the intensity of fast-paced cinematic sequences, and it can't get loud enough for larger watch parties.
- USB-C charging.
- Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
- Limited playback controls.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a decent choice for podcasts. It's small and lightweight enough that it can be carried around or clipped to a bag, and its clear and detailed mid-range reproduction means your favorite hosts' voices are easily understandable. The speaker's cylindrical 360-degree design also means that it has great directivity, so audio sounds consistent across different listening angles. You can crank up the volume without worrying about compression affecting audio clarity, too. That said, it can't get particularly loud, so you'll need to keep it close by to follow along to podcasts.
- Excellent directivity.
- Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
- Limited playback controls.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities, so it's not a good fit for this use.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a good fit for outdoors use. Its svelte, lightweight design means that it can easily be stowed in a bag or a larger pocket, and it can even be clipped on to your person for easy transportation. Its 12 hours of battery life means that you can squeeze a few listening sessions out of it while on a camping trip without needing to recharge. Plus, its excellent directivity and decent dynamics performance means you can play some tunes around a campfire with everyone enjoying a similar audio experience.
- Excellent directivity.
- USB-C charging.
- Over 12 hours of continuous battery life.
- No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
- Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 25, 2025:
We added a reference to the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i in the Build Quality box.
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Updated Nov 20, 2024:
We referenced the Sony LinkBuds Speaker in the Voice Assistant box.
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Updated Oct 17, 2024:
This review has been updated to mention the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM PLAY in the Style section.
- Updated Oct 09, 2024: The
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 comes in four different color variants: 'Active Black,' 'Raspberry Red,' 'Cobalt Blue,' and 'Enchanting Lilac' (here's a picture of its label). If you encounter another variant of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a small, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that follows the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. However, besides implementing USB-C charging, there's not much in the way of meaningful upgrades to the features or performance. Its price point means it competes with similarly light, portable speakers that can deliver a bit more bass, like the JBL Flip 6. For a lower price, you can also pick up the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4, which features a more balanced default sound profile in a more portable form factor. The WONDERBOOM 4 has no compatible companion app, so you won't have access to an EQ or presets beyond the 'Outdoor' and 'Podcast' modes.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best Ultimate Ears speakers.
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 WONDERBOOM 4 is a better portable speaker for most uses than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4. While they're both available at similar price points, the WONDERBOOM 4 represents better value for most uses. It's more portable, has a more balanced default sound profile, and features Bluetooth multi-device pairing. Otherwise, the two speakers are very similar when it comes to soundstage performance, battery life, and build quality.
The Bose SoundLink Flex and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are portable speakers that feature some key differences that can help you make your buying decision. The Bose features a more balanced sound profile that can more accurately reproduce the details of music and movies. It also has better controls and a built-in mic that works with the voice assistant on your iOS or Android device. That said, the Ultimate Ears is undoubtedly the better pick for outdoor use, thanks to its excellent directivity and much longer battery life. It can also get similarly loud without compressing as much.
The JBL Flip 6 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are both compact, cylindrical speakers that can easily be carried around in a bag or large pocket. The key difference maker is that the Ultimate Ears features a 360 design that allows it to reproduce audio more consistently across different listening angles. It also has a much longer continuous battery life. For this reason, it's a better pick for most uses, including outdoor use. That said, the JBL features slightly more present bass and treble reproduction, which music lovers will appreciate.
Test Results
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