The Next Generation of Boom Has Arrived
It’s been six years since the release of the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, a portable Bluetooth speaker that quickly became a popular competitor against JBL’s Flip series. Recently, Ultimate Ears released its next generation of Bluetooth speakers, including the Boom 4. So what’s changed between the Boom 3 and the Boom 4? Let’s take a look at how these two speakers compare side by side and see whether it’s worth upgrading.
Winner
Boom 4
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is a slightly better speaker than the Boom 3. It has improved sound quality, newer Bluetooth support, and now supports USB-C charging.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Boom 4
Model | Boom 3 | Boom 4 |
Release Date | 2018 | 2024 |
Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
Output Power | 12W | 12W |
Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP | A2DP |
Battery Life | Up to 15 Hours | Up to 15 Hours |
Frequency Response | 90Hz – 20kHz | Unspecified |
Drivers | 2x 2″ | 2x 1.57″ |
Passive Radiators | 2x 2 x 4″ | 2x 1.81 x 2.57″ |
Multispeaker Pairing | Yes (150+ speakers) | Yes (150+ speakers) |
Weight | 1.36 lbs | 1.36 lbs |
Dimensions | 2.87″ x 7.24″ | 2.87″ x 7.24″ |
App Support | UE | Boom | UE | Boom |
Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
The Boom 3 and 4 have very similar designs, with only minor differences between the two. The biggest differences are the new colorways and the added durability in the Boom 4 which has been drop-tested up to 1.5 meters.
Design
Winner: Tied
The UE Boom 4 retains the same design as the Boom 3, with a cylindrical shape and fabric mesh wrapped around it. Not much has changed on the speaker’s exterior and it’s difficult to tell the two apart when placed next to each other. Each speaker also has a small carry loop near the top. They both measure 2.87″ wide, 7.24″ tall, and weigh in at 1.36 lbs making them easy to carry and ideal for frequent use indoors or outdoors.
The Boom 4 can be identified by its colorways, which differ from the Boom 3. The Boom 3 comes in lagoon blue, night black, sunset red, and ultraviolet purple while the Boom 4 is available in active black, cobalt blue, enchanting lilac, and raspberry red.
Despite their similarities, the Boom 4 has gone eco-conscious and is now made from at least 52% recycled plastics.
Durability
Winner: Boom 4
The two speakers have similar durability, but the Boom 4 is advertised as shock-resistant, having undergone drop tests to a height of 1.5 meters. This wasn’t advertised on the Boom 3, and perhaps UE has improved the internal structure of the speaker. Otherwise, both speakers have a rugged build, and even though the Boom 4 has been made with recycled plastics, it is still durable. It retains the same fabric-wrapped exterior which prevents scratches to the body.
Portability
Winner: Tied
The UE Boom 3 and 4 are equally portable, having the same dimensions and weight. At just over 7″ tall and weighing under 1.5 lbs, they can be used as daily drivers, or taken with you on outdoor adventures. They’re small and light enough to be stored in backpacks and even some handbags. A small carry loop near the top makes it easy to latch them onto objects using a carabiner.
Waterproofing
Winner: Tied
Both speakers have been built to last and feature the same IP67 waterproof rating. This means they are water and dust-resistant, making them ideal for use around the pool or at the beach. Because they both float, accidentally knocking one into the pool won’t be a problem. You can use a speaker in the rain or even use a hose to wash it off after outdoor use (just make sure the charging port seal is closed when used around water or dust).
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
Both speakers have the same controls and the on-speaker buttons cover all the essentials, from track skipping and volume control to play and pausing. Additionally, both speakers support the ‘magic button’ feature that allows one to quickly toggle through playlists directly from the speaker. The Boom 4 has the advantage of a USB-C charging port, while the Boom 3 has a micro-USB port.
Inputs & Outputs
Winner: Tied
The Boom 3 and 4 are stripped back and don’t have any inputs and outputs other than Bluetooth connectivity. This is a common trend among Bluetooth speakers and auxiliary inputs are becoming reserved for larger speakers.
Multi-Speaker Pairing
Winner: Boom 4
Both speakers have the same comprehensive multi-speaker pairing that allows for more than 150 speakers to be connected. Unlike many other brands that use different connection protocols for various models and limit multi-speaker support across models and generations, Ultimate Ears has retained its beloved approach to multi-speaker pairing. You can connect the Boom 3 and 4, and both speakers can be paired with all Boom, Megaboom, Everboom, Epicboom, and Hyperboom models across different generations.
The Boom 4 also supports UE’s “Double Up” feature, which is another term for TWS (True Wireless Stereo). This lets you pair two together and have each speaker assigned as a dedicated left or right channel.
Controls
Winner: Tied
There isn’t a difference in the controls between the two speakers, with the UE seemingly opting to keep things simple and not force buyers to relearn how to use the speaker. On the side of the speaker are two large buttons (plus and minus), these are volume controls and can also be pushed down together for an indication of battery level.
On the top is each speaker, there’s a power button, Bluetooth pairing button, and the main multi-control button which UE calls the “Magic button”. This magic button can be pressed once to play or pause music, twice to skip a track forward, and three times to move backward a track. Holding it down will activate the speaker’s playlist mode, where it will start playing a playlist from your preferred streaming service (playlists can be managed inside the app). Holding it down a second time will toggle between playlists. This unique feature is available on both speakers.
Bluetooth
Winner: Boom 4
The Boom 4 gets a welcome Bluetooth upgrade, moving from 4.2 (on the Boom 3) to Bluetooth 5.1. Bluetooth 5.1 has a higher ceiling for connection range, power efficiency, and sound quality, through newer codec support. Despite the upgrade, the Boom 4 is still advertised to retain a stable connection up until 145 feet in range, which seems accurate (tested by YouTuber HotshotTek using a drone).
App Support
Winner: Tied
The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and 4 are supported with the same proprietary companion app, the “UE | Boom”. Inside the Boom app, you can adjust the volume, set multi-speaker connections, access your playlists, and toggle between 4 preset EQs or create a custom EQ profile using the graphic EQ.
Audio Performance
The Boom 4 is a slightly better-sounding speaker, with punchier bass and better dynamic range. While there isn’t a whole lot separating these two speakers, the punchier lows and enhanced clarity stand out.
Sound Quality
Winner: Boom 4
The Boom 4’s bass sounds tighter than the Boom 3, likely because of the adjustments to the drivers. The Boom 3 had slightly larger drivers than the Boom 4 (two 2″ vs two 1.57″, respectively). The Boom 4 still has the same two passive radiators that the Boom 3 has. The vocals sound slightly better on the Boom 4, with a little more detail and clarity. The mids come across as slightly more balanced, but there isn’t a huge difference between the two speakers and how they sound.
Volume, Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: Boom 4
The Boom 3 is a distinctly louder speaker than the Boom 4, reaching 90dBC compared to the Boom 4’s more modest 85 dBC. These levels are suitable for small to medium-sized rooms.
Both speakers feature the same renowned 360-degree sound, owing to its unique driver placement that aims to disperse sound evenly around the speaker so that no matter where you’re sitting in relation to the speaker, you’re going to hear good quality sound. This feature results in excellent soundstage.
Dynamics are better on the Boom 4, which results in more detail in the mix. You can hear subtle variations in volume more noticeably which makes songs feel more immersive. The trend of trading volume for improved dynamics is one that we’ve also seen with JBL’s 2024 releases.
Battery / Power
Winner: Boom 4
Both speakers are rated to last up to 15 hours of playtime at 30% volume. Ultimate Ears typically have an accurate estimate of their advertised playtimes. Even at 50% volume, you can expect around 12 hours of playtime with both speakers. The charging process takes around the same time between both speakers and can be wirelessly charged with the optional charging plate.
The Boom 4 has replaced the Micro-USB charging port found on the Boom 3 with a modern USB-C connection which improves its support, as most modern devices no longer use micro-USB.
Price & Value
With the Boom 4 retailing at the same price as the Boom 3 ($149), going for the Boom 4 is a no-brainer for first-time customers considering going for one of the two speakers. For existing Boom 3 owners, the question of whether to upgrade is a little more complex. There are some small improvements to the Boom 4, but the additional volume of the Boom 3 may discourage some owners from upgrading. If volume is more important to you than dynamics, then stick with the Boom 3, but for a slightly better sound, a more durable build, and a Bluetooth upgrade the Boom 4 is worth the upgrade.
Conclusion
Overall, both the UE Boom 3 and Boom 4 are great speakers. The Boom 4 is not a massive upgrade but offers several performance improvements. First-time buyers are better off going with the Boom 4, while an upgrade for existing customers only makes sense for those who are content with only seeing moderate improvements to areas like sound quality and durability.
I bought a Boom 3 in May 2024 for some outdoor events in June and found I needed to have the volume at maximum to cope with outdoor conditions of ambient noise and wind, particularly if the wind was blowing towards the speaker. The sound wasn’t distorted at this level and the music was loud enough for dancing within a 25 metre sector. The battery lasted about 2 hours on max volume but I had a usb power pack so used that for the 3.5 hour event. For such a small 12Watt device it worked extremely well so am very pleased and it award a 5⭐️ Rating.
I take it you won’t be upgrading to the Boom 4? The improvements really seem marginal.
Thanks for this precise comparison of both speakers. I’m thinking about buying a second speaker to pair them as stereo speakers/True Wireless Stereo, do you know if it’s possible between a Boom 3 and a Boom 4? That is key for me to choose between both products.
The lower maximum volume of the Boom 4 is a downer for me thince I found the 3 already limited in some situations, specially outdoors partly because of the lack of bass. The Boom 3 speaker is definitely rather shaped for the inside, more precise in the high and mids but less bass, I guess Boom 4 is trying to be a little bit more outdoorsy
Hey Fabien, I can confirm that the Boom 4 and Boom 3 can be paired up together using UE’s PartyUp feature.