7

out of

Bluetooth Speakers

True Score Methodology v1.0

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review

December 6, 2023

True Score

85

Absolutely Fresh

89

13

Experts

NR

0

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

13

)

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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Table of Contents

Overview
What Is Not on the Box
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Customer Score Breakdown
Learn More About Bluetooth Speakers

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.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

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.

True Score

85

Reasons to Buy

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

Reasons to Avoid

No WiFi connectivity
No speakerphone/voice assistant functionality

Specifications

	Battery Charge Time	2.5 hrs
	Battery Life	20 hrs
	Built In Microphone	No
	Charge Time	2 – 3 hrs
	Size	Diameter: 87 mm (d) Height: 225 mm (h) (Weight: 925 g)
	Smart App	Yes
	Speaker Pairing	Yes
	Water Resistant	Yes
	Wattage	300W
	Wireless Range	150 ft

All Specs

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Product Comparison

	Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review	UE Boom 3 Review	JBL Charge 5 Review	JBL Xtreme 3 Review
True Score	85	NR	86	84
Ranking	# 7 / 106	# / 106	# 4 / 106	# 11 / 106
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	2.5 hrs	–	4 hrs	–
Battery Life	20 hrs	–	20 hrs	15 hrs
Built In Microphone	No	–	Yes	n/a
Charge Time	2 – 3 hrs	–	4 hrs	2.5 hrs
Size	Diameter: 87 mm (d) Height: 225 mm (h) (Weight: 925 g)	–	3.76" (h) x 8.7" (w) x 3.67" (d)	11.8" (w) x 5.3" (d) x 5.4" (h)
Smart App	Yes	–	JBL Portable	Yes
Dig Deeper			Read review →: JBL Charge 5 Review	Read review →: JBL Xtreme 3 Review

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

89

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

0

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

85

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

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

A

Trust Score

72

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

By:

Britta O’Boyle
C

Trust Score

68

“No bottom line found for this product” read more

By:

Unknown
C

Trust Score

NR

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

By:

Unknown
C

Trust Score

90

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

By:

Parker Hall
D

Trust Score

80

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

By:

Matt Tate
D

Trust Score

90

Not bigger but definitely better – the Megaboom 3 is probably the best speaker Ultimate… read more

By:

Unknown