5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review

True Score

91
88
19

Experts

95
0

Consumers

Product Awards

Top 5

GR Certified

Expert Rankings

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(

19

)

Expert testers lauded the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 for its exceptional build quality and how loud it could get. They liked its Bluetooth connectivity’s strength but complained about its missing WiFi connectivity and lack of speakerphone functionality. They also lamented its lack of compatibility with voice assistants.

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Product Snapshot

Overview

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in mid-2019. Weighing only 2 pounds, the speaker is relatively easy to carry around, and since it is both water and dust-resistant, it is ideal for outdoor use. The speaker is also capable of stereo output, and with a battery that lasts up to 17.7 hours, the MEGABOOM 3 lasts almost as long as some of the best speakers on the market. In terms of its Bluetooth connectivity, the MEGABOOM 3 has a range of up to 282.2 ft, but it can only be paired with one device at a time. The most popular Bluetooth speakers can handle two or more simultaneous connections, and although the WONDERBOOM 2 does not quite fit into that category, it can still be paired with two devices simultaneously. If you’re interested, check it out in our Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 review.

Consensus

our Verdict

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 was praised by testers for its outstanding build quality, loud volume, and impressive battery performance. Specialists from Tom’s Guide were happy that the MEGABOOM 3 was dust and water-resistant and liked that its vocals and instrumentals were clear and accurate when streaming videos and listening to music. They were also delighted with its Bluetooth connectivity since the signal strength remained high when the speaker and the connected device were separated through a wall. Experts from Sound Guys also liked that the speaker could be connected with up to 150 other speakers through its companion app, which they also found easy to use during their experiments.

However, testers were disappointed with its lack of WiFi connectivity, missing speakerphone functionality, and lack of support for voice assistants. The Ultimate Ears Megablast is compatible with voice assistants, so check it out in our Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST review. The MEGABOOM 3 also does not have an FM tuner as the Avantree SP850 does. Have a look at it in our Avantree SP850 review.

Reason to Buy

  • Great build quality
  • Loud max volume
  • Easy-to-use app
  • Long battery life
  • Decent bass response

Reason to Avoid

  • No WiFi connectivity
  • No speakerphone/voice assistant functionality

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Specs

Battery Charge Time Battery Charge Time 2.75 hrs
Battery Life Battery Life 20+ hrs
Built In Microphone Built In Microphone No
Charge Time Charge Time 3 hrs
Depth Depth 3.75"
Height Height 8.88"
IPX Rating IPX Rating IP67
Size Size
Smart App Smart App Yes
Speaker Pairing Speaker Pairing Yes
Water Resistant Water Resistant Yes
Wattage Wattage 12W
Width Width 3.75"
Wireless Range Wireless Range 150 ft

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours) 19.2333
Volume Output (dB) 89.95
Low End Roll Off (Hz) 93.773
High End Roll Off (Hz) 6,639.818

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Product Comparison

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review

UE Boom 3 Review

UE Boom 3 Review

True Score

91
NR
88
86

Ranking

#

5

/

260

#

/

260

#

16

/

260

#

28

/

260

Market Context

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in mid-2019. Weighing only 2 pounds, the speaker is relatively easy…

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in mid-2019. Weighing only 2 pounds, the speaker is relatively easy to carry around, and since it is both water and dust-resistant, it is ideal for outdoor use. The speaker is also capable of stereo output, and with a battery that lasts up to 17.7 hours, the MEGABOOM 3 lasts almost as long as some of the best speakers on the market. In terms of its Bluetooth connectivity, the MEGABOOM 3 has a range of up to 282.2 ft, but it can only be paired with one device at a time. The most popular Bluetooth speakers can handle two or more simultaneous connections, and although the WONDERBOOM 2 does not quite fit into that category, it can still be paired with two devices simultaneously. If you’re interested, check it out in our Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 review.

There is hardly any structural difference between the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, so buyers might struggle to differentiate between…

There is hardly any structural difference between the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, so buyers might struggle to differentiate between the two. However, the MEGABOOM 3 offers a more profound bass response and a longer 17.7-hour battery life than the BOOM 3, which only lasts up to 13.7 hours. We’ve covered more about the BOOM 3 in our Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 review.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is capable of a stereo output while the JBL Charge 5 is not, and its 17.7-hour battery life is longer…

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is capable of a stereo output while the JBL Charge 5 is not, and its 17.7-hour battery life is longer than the 14.5-hour battery life of the JBL Charge 5. However, the Charge 5 can handle up to two simultaneous connections simultaneously, which the BOOM 3 cannot.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3’s 17.7-hour battery life is much longer than the 12.7-hour battery life of the JBL Xtreme 3. However, the Xtreme 3…

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3’s 17.7-hour battery life is much longer than the 12.7-hour battery life of the JBL Xtreme 3. However, the Xtreme 3 can be paired with two devices, but the MEGABOOM 3 cannot.

Battery Charge Time

2.75 hrs

4 hrs

Battery Life

20+ hrs

20+ hrs

15 hrs

Built In Microphone

No

No

n/a

Charge Time

3 hrs

4 hrs

2.5 hrs

Depth

3.75"

3.67"

Height

8.88"

3.76"

IPX Rating

IP67

IP67

Size

11.8" (w) x 5.3" (d) x 5.4" (h)

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JBL Charge 5 Review →

JBL Xtreme 3 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

88

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

95

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

91

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

Expert Score Breakdown

  • Rtings
    102.6

    Category Trust Score

    72
    The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is very good for outdoor use. It comes with an… read more

    By:

    Britta O’Boyle
  • DXO Mark
    98.76

    Category Trust Score

    68
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • PC Mag
    54.9

    Category Trust Score

    80
    The wireless Ultimate Ears UE Megaboom 3 speaker improves upon its predecessor with a sleeker,… read more

    By:

    Matt Tate
  • Tom’s Guide
    68.04

    Category Trust Score

    90
    The UE Megaboom 3 has what you want in a portable Bluetooth speaker: good sound… read more

    By:

    Parker Hall
  • Sound Guys
    55.87

    Category Trust Score

    NR
    Again, the highs are a vast improvement from the original Boom, with much more clarity… read more

    By:

    Unknown
  • CNET
    42.51

    Category Trust Score

    NR
    Ultimate Ears Boom speakers have been among the most popular portable Bluetooth speakers , and… read more

    By:

    David Carnoy

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