The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the next generation of the brand's budget speaker, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2. It has an identical design to the WONDERBOOM 2, with the same oversized volume buttons on the side, and offers a similar 13-hour battery life. This small speaker has a stretchy strap to carry or hang it up with. Also, its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance means it can withstand dust and water exposure. Its design is well-suited for its intended purpose as a portable speaker, but it lacks sound customization features and support for voice assistants, like most speakers in its price range.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is alright for music. It has a balanced sound profile, making it great for listening to a wide variety of music genres. However, like most speakers its size, it doesn't get incredibly loud, and it lacks a thumpy low-bass, so it's better suited for listening in a bedroom instead of in a big backyard. It has little compression at max volume, so your favorite songs sound clean and clear when you blast the speaker. It also offers a wide and spacious-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design. Unfortunately, there's no graphic EQ to customize its sound to your liking.
- Little compression at max volume.
- Wide and immersive soundstage.
- No graphic EQ.
- Lacks low-bass.
While it isn't specifically designed for this, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is adequate for watching videos and movies. It has fairly low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, so the visuals you see on the screen and the audio you hear remain synchronized. Its 360-degree design helps it offer a wide and spacious-sounding soundstage. That said, like most speakers its size, it doesn't get incredibly loud, so it's better suited for listening in smaller or medium-sized rooms.
- Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
- Wide and immersive soundstage.
- No graphic EQ.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is very good for podcasts. It has a balanced sound profile with a neutral mid-range that ensures voices and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix, making it great for dialogue-centric audio content like audiobooks and podcasts. Its 360-degree design means you can hear your audio clearly from most angles. It supports multi-device pairing, so it's easy to switch audio sources. However, it doesn't get extremely loud, like most small speakers, so it's better for listening in smaller areas.
- Little compression at max volume.
- Wide and immersive soundstage.
- Incredibly portable.
- No graphic EQ.
This speaker doesn't support voice assistants.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is very good for outdoor use. It has a very sturdy build and an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It floats in water, so you don't have to worry about dropping it in the pool. Its 360 design helps you hear audio clearly from every angle, and it's incredibly portable, with a lightweight design and built-in carrying hook. Also, while it doesn't get that loud, there isn't much compression at max volume, so your favorite songs sound clean and clear when the volume's all the way up. An 'Outdoor Mode' also makes elements like voices louder and easier to hear. Its continuous battery life of 13 hours makes it great for long days at the beach.
- IP67 rating.
- Floats in water.
- Over 13 hours of playtime.
- Incredibly portable.
- No graphic EQ.
- Lacks low-bass.
Changelog
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Updated Jun 12, 2025:
We updated the Controls and App section of this review to clarify that you can pair Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 and Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 models in stereo or Party modes.
- Updated Sep 20, 2024: This review has been updated to mention the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 in the Battery and Bluetooth sections.
- Updated Sep 09, 2024: We've updated the Battery after re-testing this speaker's battery life. We've also updated other relevant parts of the review, including the intro and product comparison sections.
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated theFrequency Response Accuracybox to provide some details on this speaker's performance using 'Outdoor' mode.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker comes in four color variants expected to perform similarly: 'Active Black,' 'Performance Blue,' 'Hyper Pink,' 'Joyous Bright,' Spruce Green,' and 'Digital Lavender.' This review represents the test results for the 'Joyous Bright' variant; you can find its label here.
If you encounter a variant not listed here, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
This small Bluetooth speaker is the next generation of the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2. It sports a nearly identical design to its predecessor and still has a Micro-USB port for charging. It doesn't work with the Ultimate Ears app, unlike bigger, pricier Ultimate Ears speakers like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, and doesn't come with sound customization features like an EQ. That said, its sound profile sounded a touch fuller and brighter than the WONDERBOOM 2.
Check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Flip 6, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears is a stereo speaker that offers a much wider and more immersive soundstage performance. It gets about as loud as the JBL but with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio quality when you blast your favorite songs. Its battery life of over 13 hours makes it better suited for longer listening sessions. If you like having more control over your speaker's sound profile, go for the JBL. It has a graphic EQ to customize its sound profile to your liking. It also produces a bass that's a touch deeper than the WONDERBOOM 3, but not by much.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 and WONDERBOOM 3 are very similar speakers. The main differences are that the WONDERBOOM 4 charges using USB-C and has a 'Podcast' mode. If you watch videos, its lower latency will make a difference in syncing audio and video. However, if you can find the WONDERBOOM 3 at a discount and don't mind the older micro-USB charging port, besides the audio latency, the performance difference is minor.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a slightly better speaker than the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. The MEGABOOM 3 offers a boomy sound profile that can produce a more extended low bass than the WONDERBOOM 3. It's also compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which features a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound profile to your liking. Plus, it has a slightly longer battery life. However, the WONDERBOOM 3 is smaller, making it more portable and easy to sling in a backpack or bag.
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.
Test Results
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