The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a colorful speaker with a carrying strap so you can take it with you on the go. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and has an 'Outdoor Boost' EQ mode that cuts some bass from the mix and gives the vocals a louder boost for when you're outside. However, it doesn't get very loud and lacks low-bass out-of-the-box. It also has high latency on Android as well as iOS, and it doesn't support voice assistants. Still, this sturdy and lightweight speaker is a suitable choice if you want to listen to audio outdoors.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is alright for music. While it lacks a lot of low-bass, the rest of its sound profile is fairly well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and detailed. It also has an outdoor EQ mode to help boost vocals and the mix while cutting out some bass. Since it's a 360-degree speaker, it has an outstanding soundstage. However, it doesn't get very loud.
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Outstanding soundstage.
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One-hand carry.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Lacking low bass.
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Not voice activated.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is mediocre for videos and movies. It lacks a lot of low bass, which can be disappointing if you like action-packed films, and it doesn't get very loud. It also has high audio latency on iOS and Android, although some apps and devices compensate for latency differently. On the upside, it has an outstanding soundstage.
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Outstanding soundstage.
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One-hand carry.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Lacking low bass.
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High Bluetooth latency.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is great for podcasts. Although it doesn't get very loud, it has a fairly neutral mid-range so it can reproduce accurate and clear vocals. It also has a wide and natural soundstage and supports multi-device pairing.
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One-hand carry.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Not voice activated.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 doesn't have voice assistant support.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is good for outdoor use. This portable speaker has great build quality with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Its battery lasts just under 13 hours continuously, and it has an outdoor EQ mode that cuts some bass in the mix while boosting the volume of vocals so they sound crisper. Unfortunately, the speaker doesn't get very loud overall.
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IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
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'Outdoor Boost' EQ preset.
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One-hand carry.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Lacking low bass.
- 6.8 Music
- 6.1 Videos/Movies
- 8.0 Podcasts
- 3.2 Voice Assistant
- 7.8 Outdoors
- Updated Nov 15, 2022: Added more information about stereo pairing to the Soundstageand Bluetoothboxes.
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: Retested the speaker and changed 'Track Next/Previous' from 'Yes (Physical)' to 'Forward Only (Physical)' in the controls box, and updated the 'Ease of Use' test result to 'Great' and the 'Feedback' test result to 'Good'. Clarified 'Outdoor Boost' feature in the 'Frequency Response Accuracy' box.
- Updated Sep 22, 2022: Added comparison to Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 in 'Battery' and 'Compared To Other Speakers' boxes.
- Updated Jul 27, 2022: Confirmed e-reader audiobook performance due to user interest. No change to the review as its great performance aligns with vocals in 'Podcasts' usage box.
- Updated Dec 14, 2020: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 comes in several color variants: 'Concrete', 'Deep Space', 'Bermuda Blue', 'Radical Red', 'Crushed Ice Grey', 'Just Peach', and 'Unicorn'. You can see the label for the model we tested here. We also expect these color variants to perform similarly to our test unit.
If you come across another variant of the speaker, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is an eye-catching and colorful speaker with a carrying strap so you can take it with you on the go. It has an identical design to the next generation Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. Like the WONDERBOOM 3, it's advertised to float in water and features an outdoor EQ mode. Its battery life of around 13 hours doesn't last nearly as long as the WONDERBOOM 3's 22 hours, though battery life can vary depending on your usage habits and chosen volume levels.
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 WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Ultimate Ears is better built, can play stereo content, and has a wider soundstage. It can also get louder, and its continuous battery life lasts longer.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is better than the Bose SoundLink Flex, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears is a stereo speaker with a more open and wide-sounding soundstage. It has less compression present at max volume and significantly longer-lasting battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage. However, the Bose can produce a deeper bass and supports voice assistants through your smartphone.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB13 overall. The Ultimate Ears can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, is better-built, and can get louder than the Sony. That said, the Sony has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume and has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may differ.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is slightly better than the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2. The WONDERBOOM 4 uses the newer USB-C charging standard and adds a 'Podcast' EQ preset. If you watch videos, this speaker has much lower latency, so you'll notice fewer lipsync mismatches. It also has a greater Bluetooth range if you're milling about with your phone in your pocket. However, if you're fine with charging using micro-USB, they have more in common than differences, such as virtually the same battery life and similar 360-degree directivity.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 6 overall. The Ultimate Ears can get slightly louder with much less compression present at max volume, so audio quality doesn't degrade as much as you bump up the volume. It has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 13 hours. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It also has excellent directivity, resulting in a wider and more natural-sounding soundstage. That said, the JBL can produce a more extended low-bass out-of-the-box. It also has a graphic EQ to customize its sound to your liking.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is slightly better than the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, but not by much. While they have a comparable battery life performance, the newer version's sound profile also sounds brighter and fuller overall. Otherwise, the two speakers are almost identical. It isn't worth the upgrade if you already own a WONDERBOOM 2. If you want a new, small, portable Ultimate Ears speaker, choose the WONDERBOOM 3 instead.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears is smaller, is more portable, and has much better directivity resulting in a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has fewer compression artifacts at max volume. The JBL can produce deeper bass than the Ultimate Ears, and you can pair it to multiple PartyBoost-compatible speakers, which can come in handy when you want your audio to fill a large room.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3 overall. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it offers a fantastic soundstage that you'll perceive as wide and natural-sounding. It can get louder with less compression present at max volume. It's also better built, with an IPX67 rating for dust and water resistance. The Anker is more customizable with a graphic EQ and presets to tweak its sound to your liking.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ and the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 are two portable speakers with different strengths. The Anker comes with a graphic EQ to customize its sound profile, and it can get louder. However, the Ultimate Ears has fewer compression artifacts at max volume. The Ultimate Ears also has a more open soundstage, although it struggles more to produce low-bass.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2. The MEGABOOM 3 is compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which features a graphic EQ and presets, so you can tweak the speaker's sound to suit your preferences. You can also use it to connect multiple compatible speakers when you want your audio to fill a large room without increasing the volume. That said, the WONDERBOOM 2 is smaller and more portable than the MEGABOOM 3, and you can pair it to two devices at a time, which can come in handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is better than the Marshall Willen. The Ultimate Ears is another small, portable Bluetooth speaker, but its build feels more durable than the Marshall. It reproduces more low-bass, too, and its 360-design provides a better soundstage.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Clip 4. The Ultimate Ears has a better build quality, and due to its 360-degree design, it has a wider, more spacious-feeling soundstage, especially as it's in stereo. It also has a better-balanced sound profile, can get much louder, and has a longer-lasting continuous battery life. However, the JBL has lower latency on iOS and Android.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with a longer battery life. Also, it gets louder, and it has less compression when played at max volume. However, the Anker supports voice assistants, and it also has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
You may prefer either the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the JBL Xtreme 3, depending on your listening habits. The Ultimate Ears is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It offers a much more open-sounding soundstage than that of the JBL, thanks to its 360-degree design. It also has less compression present at max volume, resulting in a cleaner sound at louder volume levels. However, the JBL can get louder and produce a much more extended low-bass than the Ultimate Ears. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth, though some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may differ.
The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a better speaker than the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, though they have different strengths. The HYPERBOOM can produce a much more extended low-bass, and can get significantly louder than the WONDERBOOM 2 with less compression present at max volume. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets to tweak its sound to your liking. That said, the WONDERBOOM 2 is smaller and more portable. It also has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Marshall Emberton. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has a longer continuous battery life. Its soundstage is better, and it gets louder with fewer compression artifacts present at max volume. However, the Marshall has lower latency with Android and iOS devices, although some apps compensate for latency, so your real-world experience can vary.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears has a better soundstage and can get louder with a lot fewer compression artifacts. Its battery lasts longer too. However, the Sony has less latency via Bluetooth and it has a companion app with a graphic EQ to tweak its sound. It can also be paired with smartphones if you want voice assistant support.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for most uses than the Google Nest Audio. The Ultimate Ears is better built, and since it can be used with a battery, it's more portable and better suited for outdoor use. Also, it has a better soundstage, and it can get louder with fewer compression artifacts. Thanks to its lower latency, it's better suited for watching videos and movies, too. However, the Google speaker is a better choice for voice assistant support, since it has built-in Google Assistant capabilities.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for outdoor use than the Sony SRS-XB33. The Ultimate Ears feels better-built, has a more neutral sound profile, and its soundstage seems more wide and spacious. However, the Sony has better controls, it supports your smartphone's voice assistant, and it has a companion app with a basic graphic EQ. It also has low iOS and Android latency, although some apps seem to compensate for latency differently.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the OontZ Angle 3. The Ultimate Ears is better-built and has a more even sound profile that can produce low-bass. It has a better soundstage and its battery charges up in less time too. It can even be paired with up to two devices at a time. However, the OontZ can get slightly louder with fewer compression artifacts.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Ultimate Ears can get louder, has a better soundstage, and has longer battery life. While both speakers struggle to reproduce low-bass, the Ultimate Ears has a more extended low-bass. That said, the JBL has lower latency with Android and iOS devices.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Bushnell Wingman. The Ultimate Ears offers a better-balanced sound profile out of the box, that can produce a much more extended low-bass. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. It's also better-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It even floats in water. That said, if you're an avid golfer, you may prefer the Bushnell's golf-oriented features like its built-in GPS and its companion app that saves your scores and calculates yardages.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better overall speaker than the iFox iF012. It offers a better-balanced sound profile and can produce a more extended low-bass than the iFox. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 13 hours, though this can vary depending on your usage. That said, the iFox shower speaker comes with a removable suction cup to help you stick it in somewhere your shower, which some users may prefer. You can use the speaker to answer and decline phone calls, and it has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 and the Klipsch The One II are designed for different uses. The Ultimate Ears is a significantly smaller and more portable Bluetooth speaker you can bring along with you on the go. It offers a more neutral sound profile and a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. That said, the Klipsch is a wired speaker designed for use at home. It can produce a more extended low-bass and can get louder too. It also features an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for outdoor use than the Bose SoundLink Micro. The Ultimate Ears has a better build quality with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It has a better-balanced sound profile, it can play stereo content without downmixing into mono, and it can get louder with fewer compression artifacts. Its battery performance is better too. However, the Bose has a better Bluetooth performance and it has a companion app.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore. The WONDERBOOM has a better-balanced sound profile, a wider sounding soundstage, and can get louder than the Beosound Explore, with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. That said, the Beosound Explore is more customizable thanks to its 'Beosonic' sound customization feature and EQ presets featured on its companion app. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Move or the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2. The Sonos can produce a more extended low-bass and can get louder. It also offers incredible voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. That said, the Ultimate Ears is smaller, and better built, making it more portable and better suited for outdoor use. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has a more natural-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2, though they have many different strengths. The Ultimate Ears has a more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it into mono. It gets louder, with less compression present at max volume. Also, its battery lasts for close to thirteen hours on a single charge, while the Bang & Olufsen lasts less than five hours. However, the B&O has a companion app with a 'Beosonic' sound customization feature and five EQ presets, so you can tweak its sound to your liking.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. The Sonos Roam variant has built-in voice assistant support over Wi-Fi, and it comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction and bass and treble adjustments. However, the Ultimate Ears has a better soundstage performance and a longer battery life and gets louder. It's also advertised to float in water.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Limitless Innovations TikiTunes. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with a more neutral sound profile. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it into mono, unlike the TikiTunes, and it can get louder. That said, the TikiTunes has longer battery life, and some users may prefer its torch light design.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better overall speaker than the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker. The Ultimate Ears is smaller, more portable, and better-built. It has a more neutral sound profile, it can play stereo content without downmixing it into mono, and it has a better soundstage performance. It also gets louder. That said, some listeners may prefer the Alpine Corporation's outdoor-friendly, rock-like design and its built-in solar panel for charging. It also has a longer battery life than the Ultimate Ears.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better overall outdoor speaker than the Pohopa EF-B210G speakers. It's better built, more portable, and has a better-balanced sound profile with an Outdoor mode EQ preset. However, the Pohopa speakers have a wider Bluetooth range and a longer battery life. They also come in a pair of two speakers that can be paired to each other, with unique lantern designs and LED lights which some users may prefer over the design of the Ultimate Ears.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Color II overall. Thanks to its 360-degree design, the Ultimate Ears offers a wider-sounding soundstage. It can also get a bit louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. Additionally, it's much better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance though we don't currently test for this. That said, the Bose supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Kove Commuter 2. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with longer battery life. Its sound profile is more balanced and neutral, and it offers a more open, spacious soundstage performance. However, some listeners may prefer the Kove's split design.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB12. The Ultimate Ears is better-built and has a more balanced sound profile. Its soundstage is better as it can play stereo content and it can get much louder. However, the Sony supports voice assistants via your smartphone.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB01. The Ultimate Ears is better-built, and it gets louder. Its sound profile is more neutral, and it has a more extended low-bass. Also, its soundstage is better. That said, Sony supports voice assistants, unlike the Ultimate Ears, and it's much smaller, which can be ideal for you're looking for something to bring with you on-the-go.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the DOSS SoundBox Plus. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with longer battery life. Also, its sound profile is more neutral, and it has a better, more immersive soundstage performance. However, the DOSS supports voice assistants, unlike the Ultimate Ears.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43. The Ultimate Ears is better built and it has a wider soundstage. While the Sony's low-bass is more extended, the Ultimate Ears has a better-balanced treble range. The Sony gets louder, but the Ultimate Ears has less compression at max volume. However, the Sony supports voice assistants, unlike the Ultimate Ears, and it has a graphic EQ for sound customization.
Test Results
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is made from 2-tone knit fabric and comes in several colors, so you can find one that best matches your style. It has very large and visible volume up and down buttons on its front face, which some users may find less than aesthetically pleasing. There's also a matching fabric handle.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is exceptionally portable. It's very lightweight, and it has a handle so that you can carry or suspend it from a hook. Check out the iFox iF012 shower speaker for a small speaker that comes with a removable suction cup and carabiner hook.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 has a fantastic build quality. While the knit fabric covering feels a little rough, it's solidly built. It has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and the manufacturer advertises that it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, although we don't currently test for this.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 has alright controls that are easy and straightforward to use. The volume controls are easily accessible on its front side, with a power button atop it to turn the speaker on/off and a Bluetooth pairing button to connect the speaker to your devices. You can press the largest button on top of the speaker to play/pause your audio and double-press it to skip tracks. There's also a button on the bottom to enable its 'Outdoor Boost' EQ mode that makes your audio sound a bit louder and crisper for when you're outside.
This speaker has an acceptable frequency response accuracy. Like the JBL Go 3, it lacks a lot of low bass on its default setting and won't be suited for more thumpy genres like EDM or hip-hop. The rest of the range is fairly balanced, which helps to keep vocals and lead instruments present in your mixes. You can activate its 'Outdoor Boost' EQ preset to give the vocals a boost and cut some bass from the mix when you're listening to music outside. If you want a speaker with a full graphic EQ for sound customization, check out the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3.
As the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a 360-degree stereo speaker system, it has an outstanding soundstage, and its directivity is wide, large, and natural-sounding. If you pair two of these speakers together, you can toggle between mono and stereo mode, too, which is a nice touch.
This speaker has decent dynamics. While it doesn't get as loud as speakers like the Anker Soundcore Motion+, there are minimal compression artifacts present at max volume, which ensures a fairly clean and clear sound. On the downside, it struggles to reproduce low-bass frequencies, even at a higher volume.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 has an outstanding battery performance. While its battery life doesn't last as long as the next generation Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3's 22 hours of playtime, it lasted just under 13 hours of continuous battery life, which is longer than the Bose SoundLink Micro and the OontZ Angle 3, making it well-suited for long listening sessions. The speaker automatically turns itself off after 15 minutes of inactivity to save battery life. However, battery life varies according to your usage habits and chosen volume levels, and your experience may differ.
Unlike the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 and the Sonos Roam/Roam SL, this speaker doesn't have voice assistant support.
This speaker doesn't have a companion app. If you're looking for a speaker with a companion app that offers a graphic EQ for sound customization, check out the Sony SRS-XB43 or the Anker Soundcore Flare 2.
You can't use the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 wired as it has no audio input ports. You can only charge it using its included micro-USB cable.
This speaker has decent Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair it with up to two devices at a time, which makes it easy to switch between devices, and it has a good range. Whether you're listening to one WONDERBOOM speaker or if you have two of them paired together, there's fairly high latency measured. It's not suitable for watching videos as a result since the audio you hear is out-of-sync with the video you see. Some apps seem to compensate for this, so your experience may vary.