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.
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Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review
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Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM
Published
True Score
True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.
81
Absolutely Fresh
84
14
Experts
88
12.9k
Consumers
Expert Rankings
(
14
)
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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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 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
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| 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 / 109 | # 5 / 109 | # 15 / 109 | # 8 / 109 |
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… |
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 |
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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
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
69“Ultimate Ears’ Boom speakers have been among the most popular portable Bluetooth speakers and it’s… Read MoreBy:
Unknown
81.17Category Trust Rating
NRNew features and revamped design make this snazzy, likeable speaker a good bet, but not… Read MoreBy:
Adam Molina
43.1Category Trust Rating
100Tough, loud and bags of fun. Ultimate Ears’ hot streak continues Read MoreBy:
Will Greenwald
43.6Category Trust Rating
70The Boom 3 is an improvement over its predecessor. It’s better looking, more weather- and… Read MoreBy:
Mick Symons
45.5Category Trust Rating
80The Boom 3 improves sound in a big way and adds some fun smart features… Read MoreBy:
Max Mutter
36.25Category Trust Rating
NRThe UE Boom 3 is, for the most part, incredibly similar to its predecessor. The… Read MoreBy:
David Carnoy
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