A New Era Of Wonderboom
The Wonderboom is often considered the most impressive of the Ultimate Ears line. Its compact and highly portable design is complimented by its affordable price tag. It is popular for casual music lovers looking to enjoy their favorite tunes while lounging by the pool or hanging with friends. With its durable build, you can take it just about anywhere, and its comprehensive water resistance means you can simply wash it off with a hose when it’s time for a clean.
The Wonderboom 4 is the latest in the series, but how does it compare with the previous generation? Keep reading as we compare these two speakers in detail.
Winner
Wonderboom 4
The Wonderboom 4 is a slightly better speaker than the Wonderboom 3. It has an upgraded charging port which now supports USB-C and an additional EQ preset (podcast mode).
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Wonderboom 4
| Model | Wonderboom 3 | Wonderboom 4 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2024 |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Output Power | 8.5W | 8.5W |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 (Unconfirmed) |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP | A2DP |
| Battery Life | Up to 15 Hours | Up to 20 Hours |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz – 20kHz | 75Hz – 20kHz |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57″ | 2x 1.57″ |
| Passive Radiators | 2x 1.81 x 2.57″ | 2x 1.81 x 2.57″ |
| Multispeaker Pairing | Yes (TWS) | Yes (TWS) |
| Weight | 14.81 oz | 14.81 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.09″ x 3.75″ | 4.09″ x 3.75″ |
| App Support | None | None |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
Summary: The Wonderboom series is made with durability at its core. Despite both speakers having near identical designs, the new Wonderboom 4 has the benefit of been drop-tested from 1.5 meters. They are both water-resistant and have an IP67 rating. The lightweight and compact design makes it extremely easy to carry and serves well as a daily driver.
Design
Winner: Tied
The UE Wonderboom 4 retains the same design as its predecessor, with a small, lightweight shell that’s easy to carry and can fit into the palm of one’s hand. Telling the Wonderboom 4 apart from the 3 is nearly impossible apart from the colorway differences, which also haven’t changed much since the Wonderboom 3.
The recent releases of the Megaboom 4 and Boom 4 had a focus on increased sustainability by using more recycled plastics for their construction. The Wonderboom didn’t get the same treatment and has the same 31% sustainable material rating as the Wonderboom 3.
Durability
Winner: Wonderboom 4
The Wonderboom series focuses on portability, meaning durability is also important, as it needs to keep up with your lifestyle. The fabric wrap that runs across much of the speaker protects it from scratches and also means you won’t have to worry about fingerprints showing up and making it look dirty.
The base and control area are both made from durable rubber that will last for years. The Wonderboom 3 is well-regarded for its durability and it’s only logical that UE would take an approach of “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. The Wonderboom 4 also retains the same rigorous weather resistance as the Wonderboom 3.
The Wonderboom 4 holds a slight advantage over the Wonderboom 3 in that it has been drop-tested, something that wasn’t advertised with its predecessor. Whether the Wonderboom 3 can endure the same drop testing is uncertain.
The charging port is located on the lower back of the speaker and comes with a protective cover that should remain closed when using the speaker outdoors.
Portability
Winner: Tied
Because these speakers share the same exterior, they also have the same level of portability. They both weigh in at 14.81 oz and measure 4.09″ tall with a diameter of 3.75″. This makes it easy to throw the Wonderboom into a handbag or backpack. A built-in carry loop on both generations of Wonderboom also means you can attach a carabiner and hang it from nearby branches, onto your belt loop, or the outside of a backpack.
These speakers are similar in size to the JBL Clip 5 and JBL Go 4, both suitable contenders for going head-to-head with the Wonderboom.
Waterproofing
Winner: Tied
Ultimate Ears was one of the first large Bluetooth speaker manufacturers to introduce IP67 water-resistance to their speakers, and the Wonderboom 4 retains this pinnacle of protection, also found on the Wonderboom 3. An IP67 rating means the speakers are protected from dust and water intrusion. It’s also protected from limited submergence in water.
An often overlooked feature of both the Wonderboom 3 and 4 is its ability to float in water. While we always recommend avoiding water where possible, the floating feature not only makes the speaker easier to pick up if it accidentally falls into the pool, but it also passively helps improve its water resistance, because submergence and underwater pressure are often what causes damage.
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
Summary: The Wonderboom is simple to use, with easy-to-reach volume controls and an intuitive button layout on both speakers. However, the mode adjuster under the base of the speaker can easily be missed. Controls are the same on both speakers, with neither speaker offering app support nor the ability to skip tracks backward. While they have some shortcomings, the buttons offer effective controls and the lack of an aux-in is common among modern releases.
Inputs & Outputs
Winner: Tied
The Wonderboom is a fairly bare-bones speaker and you won’t find any wired inputs or outputs aside from a charging port on either the Wonderboom 3 or 4. While aux-in support has been steadily dropping across the niche and has become somewhat predictable with recent Bluetooth speaker releases, the Wonderboom series has never had a 3.5mm input.
Multi-Speaker Pairing
Winner: Tied
Multispeaker pairing support is decent on the Wonderboom 4, using UE’s “Double Up” pairing function. While not as comprehensive in its support as the larger Megaboom and Boom series, the Wonderboom 3 and 4 can be paired together for stereo sound. Additionally, the Wonderboom 3 can be paired with another Wonderboom 3 and the Wonderboom 4 with another Wonderboom 4.
This stereo connection increases soundstage and coverage, turning each of the two speakers into a dedicated right and left channel.
Controls
Winner: Tied
Controls are unchanged on the Wonderboom 4. Both speakers have the iconic plus and minus controls on the front which control the volume levels. On the top of the speaker are a Bluetooth pairing button, a power button, and a central play/pause/skip option.
Unfortunately, both speakers only allow for forward track skipping and don’t allow one to use the speaker controls to skip back a track.
Hidden under the speaker is another button, which allows users to toggle between a couple of EQ presets.
Bluetooth
Winner: Wonderboom 4
Bluetooth performance is about the same on both speakers, providing reliable connections for up to 40 meters. While Ultimate Ears doesn’t publicly specify which Bluetooth version each speaker uses, the Wonderboom 3 likely uses Bluetooth 4.2 while the Wonderboom 4 has most likely been upgraded to 5.1.
Regardless of the exact version, UE has a good reputation regarding their range estimates, with most of their speakers living up to the claim of 40 meters. Keep in mind that this range is based on direct line of sight and obstacles between the speaker and source device may reduce it.
App Support
Winner: Tied
App support doesn’t exist for either speaker and you’d need to look at the similar, but larger Megaboom 4 and Boom 4 alternatives if app support is essential to you. The lack of app support means you’ll need to use third-party apps if you want to customize the sound profile via EQ. It also means multi-speaker pairing needs to be done via the speakers.
Audio Performance
Summary: The Wonderboom 3 and 4 sound very similar and most listeners are unlikely to be able to tell the difference between them. They both have rich bass, that comes through as punchy and the detail on vocals and instruments is impressive for the size. The Wonderboom 4 has the benefit of a podcast mode, but overall there isn’t much separating the two speakers. If you already own the Wonderboom 3, you’re not going to see much sonic benefit from upgrading to the 4.
Sound Quality
Winner: Tied
In the promotional material, the Wonderboom 4 is touted as having a bigger sound with more bass, but in practice the Wonderboom 4 sounds very similar to its predecessor. This makes sense to us, as the hardware between the two speakers is unchanged and while improvements to Bluetooth can theoretically improve audio quality, it doesn’t seem to be the case here.
For a speaker that’s frequently aligned with strong bass, the Wonderboom falls a little short of the expectations set. Sure, it can go toe-to-toe with competitors like the JBL Clip 5, but its bass is good rather than outstanding. The lows are primarily limited by the speaker’s size and subsequent driver diameter. This creates a punchy upper bass with decent mid-bass, but deep lows are throttled.
Clarity is still impressive on both speakers, and vocals, strings, synths, and bass all sound good up until around the 70% volume range. For a speaker of its size, both the Wonderboom 3 and 4 do a pretty good job of creating a broad sound with enough detail for most casual listeners.
EQ Presets (And What They Do)
Although the Wonderboom 3 and 4 aren’t supported by any companion app, they both have a button under the base that can toggle between EQ modes. The Wonderboom 3 can be swapped between the default sound and an outdoor sound, while the Wonderboom 4 has the advantage of toggling between the default sound, outdoor, and the new podcast mode.
Podcast mode simply removes a lot of the bass, creating more room for the mids and resulting in slightly improved clarity, where voices are more refined and easy to hear.
The Outdoor Mode, now called Outdoor Boost on the Wonderboom 4 boosts the highs and helps to increase the audible detail for outdoor listeners. This is because wind movement can make subtle details in the highs harder to hear.
The effectiveness of both these modes is decent, but not awe-inspiring, as the tuning can frequently cause songs to sound unnatural because of the aggressive changes to the EQ.
Volume, Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: Tied
Central to most Ultimate Ears speakers is their 360-degree sound design and the Wonderboom series is no different. This design choice places drivers in less conventional locations, facing outward in different directions to create a spatial sound that immerses the listener. It is also an outstanding feature for group listening, allowing those on all sides of the speaker to enjoy the same level of clarity.
Dynamic performance is decent on both the Wonderboom 3 and 4, without much difference between them. We were hoping to see big improvements to the dynamics, as the Megaboom 4 and Boom 4 both seemed to perform a bit better in this regard compared to their previous models. Still, the Wonderboom does a good job of retaining clarity until around 70% volume, whereafter some degradation occurs.
Regarding volume, both speakers reach the same volume level (86dB). While this isn’t enough power to host a part, it’s more than enough for solo listening sessions or smaller group gatherings with friends or family.
Battery / Power
Summary: The most noticeable difference between these two speakers is that the Wonderboom 4 supports USB-C, while the Wonderboom 3 features micro-USB. Both speakers have the same overall battery life, of around 16 to 18 hours (rated for 14 hours). The battery performance is impressive on both speakers and exceeds that found on many competitor models.
The Wonderboom 4 has an output of 8.5W, the same as the Wonderboom 3. It features a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 14 hours of advertised playtime. This is the same battery life offered by the Wonderboom 3. Ultimate Ears tend to be a little more conservative than other manufacturers on their estimated playtime and it’s not uncommon to get closer to 16 or even 18 hours of playtime from the Wonderboom.
A significant change to the Wonderboom 4 is its introduction of USB-C charging support. The Wonderboom 3 has a Micro-USB port, which is widely considered out of date. The support for USB-C moves it in line with global standards and makes it compatible with most modern phone chargers.
Price & Value
Both speakers retail for $99, but since the release of the Wonderboom 4 the prices on Wonderboom 3s have dropped closer to $85. Is the additional $15 worth it? If you’re in the market for a new Bluetooth speaker and can’t decide between the Wonderboom 3 and Wonderboom 4, we recommend paying a little bit extra for the Wonderboom 4, if nothing else to move to USB-C.
However, if you have the Wonderboom 3 and you’re considering upgrading – there isn’t much to offer from the Wonderboom 4 that you’re not getting on your existing speaker.
If you’re open to considering alternatives, we recommend looking at JBL’s Clip 5 and Go 4, two similar speakers that underwent significantly more changes since their predecessors. They don’t have the battery life of the Wonderboom but excel in other areas.
Conclusion
Overall, the Wonderboom 4 is a satisfactory Bluetooth speaker. Its durable build and compact size make it a great choice for outdoor use, but it barely differs from the Wonderboom 3, which cannot be ignored. The Wonderboom 4 is a little bit disappointing, especially when we compare it with the technology being released by similar competitors. The battery life is still excellent and the sound quality is great, but it just feels like the Wonderboom 4 is too similar to the Wonderboom 3 to get excited about.
Winner
Wonderboom 4
The Wonderboom 4 is a slightly better speaker than the Wonderboom 3. It has an upgraded charging port which now supports USB-C and an additional EQ preset (podcast mode).
