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.
- Outstanding soundstage.
- One-hand carry.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Lacking low bass.
- 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.
- Outstanding soundstage.
- One-hand carry.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Lacking low bass.
- 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.
- One-hand carry.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- 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.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- 'Outdoor Boost' EQ preset.
- One-hand carry.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Lacking low bass.
Changelog
- 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.
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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.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
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 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 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 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.
Test Results
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