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Bluetooth Speakers

True Score Methodology v1.0

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review

November 16, 2023

True Score

Absolutely Fresh

Experts

9,291

Consumers

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

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 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.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

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.

True Score

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

Reasons to Avoid

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

Specifications

	Battery Life	15 hrs
	Built In Microphone	n/a
	Charge Time	2.75 hrs
	Size	7.2" (h) x 2.9" (w) x 2.9" (d)
	Smart App	Yes
	Speaker Pairing	Yes
	Water Resistant	Yes
	Wattage	90W
	Wireless Range	148 ft

All Specs

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Product Comparison

	Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review	JBL Charge 5 Review	Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review	Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Review
True Score	86	86	85	88
Ranking	# 5 / 81	# 4 / 81	# 7 / 81	# 1 / 81
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	n/a	n/a	n/a
Charge Time	2.75 hrs	4 hrs	2 – 3 hrs	2.6 hrs
Size	7.2" (h) x 2.9" (w) x 2.9" (d)	3.76" (h) x 8.7" (w) x 3.67" (d)	Diameter: 87 mm (d) Height: 225 mm (h) (Weight: 925 g)	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
Dig Deeper		Read review →: JBL Charge 5 Review	Read review →: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Review	Read review →: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Review

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Availability
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Score Card

Expert Score

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

Customer Score

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

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
69
“Ultimate Ears’ Boom speakers have been among the most popular portable Bluetooth speakers and it’s… read more
By:
Unknown
C
Trust Score
NR
New features and revamped design make this snazzy, likeable speaker a good bet, but not… read more
By:
Adam Molina
C
Trust Score
100
Tough, loud and bags of fun. Ultimate Ears’ hot streak continues read more
By:
Will Greenwald
C
Trust Score
NR
The UE Boom 3 is a fantastic waterproof portable speaker, but Ultimate Ears hasn’t improved… read more
By:
Unknown
D
Trust Score
70
The Boom 3 is an improvement over its predecessor. It’s better looking, more weather- and… read more
By:
Mick Symons
D
Trust Score
80
The Boom 3 improves sound in a big way and adds some fun smart features… read more
By:
Max Mutter