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Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review

Enrest Walugembe Avatar
Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM

True Score

81
84
14

Experts

88
12.9k

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

Reviewers loved the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 during their tests, and they approved it for indoor and outdoor music and podcast playback. They loved its compact, portable construction, splendid soundstage performance, and super-low Bluetooth latency. Testers also linked this device’s graphic EQ. However, they had concerns about its bass-heavy sound profile and lack of speakerphone features.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2018, intended to provide deep bass and waterproof construction to indoor and outdoor users. It has a 360-degree design, providing immersive sounds, just like select products on our best speakers list today. It has an excellent 259.2-foot Bluetooth range. Continue reading our Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 review and see how this device measures up against the best Bluetooth speakers on the market today.

Consensus

our Verdict

Product researcher hailed the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, endorsing it for indoor and outdoor music and podcast playback. Experts at What Hifi loved its submersible IP67-rated waterproof, dustproof construction. Analysts from TechRadar hailed its portable 1.23-lb design, although it lacks a strap. Explore our TREBLAB HD77 review for a similar device with a carrying strap.

They were happy with its 92.4hz to 15.8kHz frequency response range, although the 5.41 dB standard error is high and the sound profile is bass-biased. Testing revealed a 1.82 dB directivity index, resulting in an immersive soundstage. Testers recorded a fairly loud 86.9 dB maximum SPL and excellent 1.91 dB DRC, showing only minor sound compression at the highest volume. Editors lauded its outstanding 13.7-hour battery and graphic EQ and presets. It also supports stereo. This device has a super-low 7 ms iOS Bluetooth latency and 34 ms Android Bluetooth latency. However, it lacks speakerphones and voice assistant functions. See our Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST review if you require voice assistant features.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Outstanding IP67-rated submersible waterproof design
  • Immersive soundstage performance
  • Speaker gets fairly loud and has very low Bluetooth latency
  • Graphic EQ and presets and support for stereo
  • Excellent 13.7-hour battery life

Reason to Avoid

  • Doesn’t support voice assistants
  • Lacks speakerphone features
  • Unbalanced music profile

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Specs

Battery LifeBattery Life15 hrs
Built In MicrophoneBuilt In Microphonen/a
Charge TimeCharge Time2.75 hrs
SizeSize7.2" (h) x 2.9" (w) x 2.9" (d)
Smart AppSmart AppYes
Speaker PairingSpeaker PairingYes
Water ResistantWater ResistantYes
WattageWattage90W
Wireless RangeWireless Range148 ft

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)15.22
Volume Output (dB)88.45
Low End Roll Off (Hz)142.544
High End Roll Off (Hz)2,832.306

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Product Comparison

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review

True Score

81
84
83
84

Ranking

#

44

/

260

#

5

/

260

#

15

/

260

#

8

/

260

Market Context

The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2018, intended to provide deep bass and waterproof construction…

The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2018, intended to provide deep bass and waterproof construction to indoor and outdoor users. It has a 360-degree design, providing immersive sounds, just like select products on our best speakers list today. It has an excellent 259.2-foot Bluetooth range. Continue reading our Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 review and see how this device measures up against the best Bluetooth speakers on the market today.

With its 360-degree design and 1.82 dB directivity index, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has a wider soundstage than the JBL Charge 5, which has…

With its 360-degree design and 1.82 dB directivity index, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 has a wider soundstage than the JBL Charge 5, which has a 4.27 dB directivity index. However, the Charge 5 portable speaker has a lower 3.90 dB frequency response standard error, resulting in a more balanced sound than the 5.41 dB standard error of the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 portable speaker. Also, check out the best desktop speakers today.

With a lower 4.07 frequency response standard error, the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 has a more balanced sound profile than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3,…

With a lower 4.07 frequency response standard error, the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 has a more balanced sound profile than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, which has a 5.41 dB standard error. However, the 1.3-lb Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is more portable than the 2.0-lb MEGABOOM 3 wireless speaker. Learn more about the MEGABOOM portable speaker in our Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 review today.

Featuring a lower 2.61 dB frequency response standard error, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is better for music and movie enthusiasts than the Ultimate Ears…

Featuring a lower 2.61 dB frequency response standard error, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is better for music and movie enthusiasts than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Bluetooth speaker, which has a 5.41 dB standard error. However, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 portable speaker has a more customizable app-based EQ than the Outdoor Mode EQ of the WONDERBOOM 2.

Battery Life

15 hrs

20+ hrs

20+ hrs

13 hrs

Built In Microphone

n/a

No

No

n/a

Charge Time

2.75 hrs

4 hrs

3 hrs

2.6 hrs

Size

7.2" (h) x 2.9" (w) x 2.9" (d)

4.1" (h) x 3.8" (w) x 3.8" (d)

Smart App

Yes

JBL Portable

Yes

n/a

Speaker Pairing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Water Resistant

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wattage

90W

30W

12W

100W

Dig Deeper

JBL Charge 5 Review →

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review →

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

84

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

88

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

81

Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    100.6

    Category Trust Rating

    69
    “Ultimate Ears’ Boom speakers have been among the most popular portable Bluetooth speakers and it’s… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • Sound Guys
    81.17

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    New features and revamped design make this snazzy, likeable speaker a good bet, but not… Read More

    By:

    Adam Molina
  • Techgear Lab
    43.1

    Category Trust Rating

    100
    Tough, loud and bags of fun. Ultimate Ears’ hot streak continues Read More

    By:

    Will Greenwald
  • PC Mag
    43.6

    Category Trust Rating

    70
    The Boom 3 is an improvement over its predecessor. It’s better looking, more weather- and… Read More

    By:

    Mick Symons
  • Trusted Reviews
    45.5

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Boom 3 improves sound in a big way and adds some fun smart features… Read More

    By:

    Max Mutter
  • CNET
    36.25

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    The UE Boom 3 is, for the most part, incredibly similar to its predecessor. The… Read More

    By:

    David Carnoy