UE BOOM 2 is the 360-degree wireless speaker that blasts loud, insanely great sound with deep, powerful bass in every direction - everywhere you go. It was designed to get wet, muddy, and beat up. PartyUp allows you to wirelessly connect to up to 50 Ultimate Ears speakers and takes your party where no other sound system can go. Caves. Mountains. Lakes. Rooftops. You name it. It's waterproof (IPX7-rated waterproof (up to 30 minutes and a depth of 1 meter), shockproof and crafted from the sexiest and most uninhibited premium materials in the known universe. And with Siri + Google Now voice integration (requires latest firmware & software update), you just open your mouth and use your words - so instead of reaching for your phone, you can pick up UE BOOM 2 so nothing comes between you and the music.
UE BOOM 2 is the 360-degree wireless speaker that blasts loud, insanely great sound with deep, powerful bass in every direction - everywhere you go. It was designed to get wet, muddy, and beat up. PartyUp allows you to wirelessly connect to up to 50 Ultimate Ears speakers and takes your party where no other sound system can go. Caves. Mountains. Lakes. Rooftops. You name it. It's waterproof (IPX7-rated waterproof (up to 30 minutes and a depth of 1 meter), shockproof and crafted from the sexiest and most uninhibited premium materials in the known universe. And with Siri + Google Now voice integration (requires latest firmware & software update), you just open your mouth and use your words - so instead of reaching for your phone, you can pick up UE BOOM 2 so nothing comes between you and the music.
in 2 offers
last seen 3 Oct 2026
The lowest price we last saw for Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Portable Waterproof & Shockproof Bluetooth Speaker - Panther (Limited Edition) was $301.13 at Amazon.com.au, compared across 2 retailers (last seen 3 Oct 2026). Prices may have changed since.
The all-time low we recorded was $89.40 on 29 Sept 2026.
Prices last updated 3 Oct 2026.
Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Portable Waterproof & Shockproof Bluetooth Speaker - Panther (Limited Edition)
UE BOOM 2 is the 360-degree wireless speaker that blasts loud, insanely great sound with deep, powerful bass in every direction - everywhere you go. It was designed to get wet, muddy, and beat up. PartyUp allows you to wirelessly connect to up to 50 Ultimate Ears speakers and takes your party where no other sound system can go. Caves. Mountains. Lakes. Rooftops. You name it. It's waterproof (IPX7-rated waterproof (up to 30 minutes and a depth of 1 meter), shockproof and crafted from the sexiest and most uninhibited premium materials in the known universe. And with Siri + Google Now voice integration (requires latest firmware & software update), you just open your mouth and use your words - so instead of reaching for your phone, you can pick up UE BOOM 2 so nothing comes between you and the music.
UE BOOM 2 is the 360-degree wireless speaker that blasts loud, insanely great sound with deep, powerful bass in every direction - everywhere you go. It was designed to get wet, muddy, and beat up. PartyUp allows you to wirelessly connect to up to 50 Ultimate Ears speakers and takes your party where no other sound system can go. Caves. Mountains. Lakes. Rooftops. You name it. It's waterproof (IPX7-rated waterproof (up to 30 minutes and a depth of 1 meter), shockproof and crafted from the sexiest and most uninhibited premium materials in the known universe. And with Siri + Google Now voice integration (requires latest firmware & software update), you just open your mouth and use your words - so instead of reaching for your phone, you can pick up UE BOOM 2 so nothing comes between you and the music.
Last updated at 03/10/2026 01:42:55
Ultimate Ears Boom 2 BrainFreeze Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker (Waterproof and Shockproof) Limited Edition 100 Panther
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Portable Waterproof & Shockproof Bluetooth Speaker - Panther (Limited Edition)
Free delivery between 14–16 Oct
originally posted on Target
I was able to try out the UE Boom 2 as a free sample in exchange for writing a review. It worked great! My husband had bought a speaker previously that is much smaller and cost about $50 and the difference is very noticeable. The UE Boom 2 is able to get much louder and the sound quality is better, not to mention it is waterproof, though I doubt I will really use this feature much personally. The battery life is also really good- I brought it on a weekend vacation and didn't even bother bringing the cord to charge it because I knew it would last for the 10 or so hours I would be using it. I've even brought it in my car and used it to listen to podcasts- the sound quality is better than my car speakers when connected to an AUX cord.The speaker was really easy to ... MoreI was able to try out the UE Boom 2 as a free sample in exchange for writing a review. It worked great! My husband had bought a speaker previously that is much smaller and cost about $50 and the difference is very noticeable. The UE Boom 2 is able to get much louder and the sound quality is better, not to mention it is waterproof, though I doubt I will really use this feature much personally. The battery life is also really good- I brought it on a weekend vacation and didn't even bother bringing the cord to charge it because I knew it would last for the 10 or so hours I would be using it. I've even brought it in my car and used it to listen to podcasts- the sound quality is better than my car speakers when connected to an AUX cord.The speaker was really easy to use, too- It has simple to follow instructions to start and every subsequent time I used the speaker it was easy enough that I did not even need to go back and check the directions about how to do it. I use it with my phone, which has bluetooth connectivity, but I would also use this speaker with a computer in the future. You don't need to have any prior knowledge of electronics or computers to be able to figure it out.The cord for the speaker is bright yellow, which I like, because it is easy to find among all the other cords for electronics that I have. They were smart to make something that looks different so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle. The packaging the speaker comes in also doubles as a case if you don't mind how bulky it is.Really the only issues I have with the speaker is the buttons. They are really big, but you have to hit them right in the center for the push to register when changing volume up and down, so it's sort of pointless to have them be as big as they are since pressing anywhere but the center doesn't do anything. This is a minor complaint though, just something I noticed while being nitpicky for the purpose of doing a review.Price would be another issue. I'm glad I got a free sample because this is an expensive speaker and I don't know if I'd be willing to spend the money to get one this nice on my own. You really do get what you pay for, though, so if you are someone who wants a really quality speaker and are willing to put in the money, it's great. The cheaper speaker we had was enough for us, but now that we have seen the difference between our old speaker and this one we are definitely spoiled and love having one that is so nice.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Indoors, outdoors, rain or shine, it's a simple working and great sounding speaker. It doesn't "boom" as much as some other bigger speakers, but you can always pay more for those. This one is excellent for "general" around the house use. I use it to amp up the sound of TV shows or movies that I may be watching on my tablet while multitasking painting, doing laundry, or cleaning. The app that goes with it helps fine-tune the sound. I'm not really sure how long the battery lasts because I've never run out of battery. I'll use it for days, and think surely it needs to be charged, so then I charge it. I thought at one point that I had lost it for a month, but then found it, and thought the battery would have self drained, but no, it had plenty of charge. No issues. I ... MoreIndoors, outdoors, rain or shine, it's a simple working and great sounding speaker. It doesn't "boom" as much as some other bigger speakers, but you can always pay more for those. This one is excellent for "general" around the house use. I use it to amp up the sound of TV shows or movies that I may be watching on my tablet while multitasking painting, doing laundry, or cleaning. The app that goes with it helps fine-tune the sound. I'm not really sure how long the battery lasts because I've never run out of battery. I'll use it for days, and think surely it needs to be charged, so then I charge it. I thought at one point that I had lost it for a month, but then found it, and thought the battery would have self drained, but no, it had plenty of charge. No issues. I have bigger speakers, and smaller speakers, but this one fits the niche of what I more often want - solid sound with ample battery power, in a rugged exterior. I got it on a "sale of the day" and have no regrets. I highly recommend it.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Was torn between the JBL Flip or Charge and this UE Boom. I don’t think that I would have been unhappy with the JBL, but I know I am VERY happy with this! I’m no audiophile, but this does everything I need it to do. It’s loud, clear, has a good range of sound, is fairly intuitive and, most important to me, is durable. I’m rough on stuff and don’t have time to worry about treating it carefully. (That’s a big reason I didn’t go with the JBL, that has the exposed speaker cones.) I have zero concerns with damaging this one. It’s tough and rugged with bomb-proof controls. I can’t speak to its water proof-ness, but have no reason to doubt that it lives up to its billing. Fits perfectly in a cup holder. Won’t roll away, due to raised control panel and stands up securely. ... MoreWas torn between the JBL Flip or Charge and this UE Boom. I don’t think that I would have been unhappy with the JBL, but I know I am VERY happy with this! I’m no audiophile, but this does everything I need it to do. It’s loud, clear, has a good range of sound, is fairly intuitive and, most important to me, is durable. I’m rough on stuff and don’t have time to worry about treating it carefully. (That’s a big reason I didn’t go with the JBL, that has the exposed speaker cones.) I have zero concerns with damaging this one. It’s tough and rugged with bomb-proof controls. I can’t speak to its water proof-ness, but have no reason to doubt that it lives up to its billing. Fits perfectly in a cup holder. Won’t roll away, due to raised control panel and stands up securely. Big volume buttons.The only negatives—none of which are dealbreakers for me: Doesn’t charge devices, doesn’t have a battery life indicator and doesn’t turn off when it loses connectivity. Other than that, I couldn’t be happier. Deal of the Day price made it even more appealing. Stop shopping around and buy one!
| General | |
| Product Type | Speaker - for portable use |
| Hands-Free Function | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Protection | Shockproof, waterproof |
Ultimate Ears Boom 2 BrainFreeze Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker (Waterproof and Shockproof) Limited Edition 100 Panther
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Portable Waterproof & Shockproof Bluetooth Speaker - Panther (Limited Edition)
Free delivery between 14–16 Oct
I was able to try out the UE Boom 2 as a free sample in exchange for writing a review. It worked great! My husband had bought a speaker previously that is much smaller and cost about $50 and the difference is very noticeable. The UE Boom 2 is able to get much louder and the sound quality is better, not to mention it is waterproof, though I doubt I will really use this feature much personally. The battery life is also really good- I brought it on a weekend vacation and didn't even bother bringing the cord to charge it because I knew it would last for the 10 or so hours I would be using it. I've even brought it in my car and used it to listen to podcasts- the sound quality is better than my car speakers when connected to an AUX cord.The speaker was really easy to ... MoreI was able to try out the UE Boom 2 as a free sample in exchange for writing a review. It worked great! My husband had bought a speaker previously that is much smaller and cost about $50 and the difference is very noticeable. The UE Boom 2 is able to get much louder and the sound quality is better, not to mention it is waterproof, though I doubt I will really use this feature much personally. The battery life is also really good- I brought it on a weekend vacation and didn't even bother bringing the cord to charge it because I knew it would last for the 10 or so hours I would be using it. I've even brought it in my car and used it to listen to podcasts- the sound quality is better than my car speakers when connected to an AUX cord.The speaker was really easy to use, too- It has simple to follow instructions to start and every subsequent time I used the speaker it was easy enough that I did not even need to go back and check the directions about how to do it. I use it with my phone, which has bluetooth connectivity, but I would also use this speaker with a computer in the future. You don't need to have any prior knowledge of electronics or computers to be able to figure it out.The cord for the speaker is bright yellow, which I like, because it is easy to find among all the other cords for electronics that I have. They were smart to make something that looks different so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle. The packaging the speaker comes in also doubles as a case if you don't mind how bulky it is.Really the only issues I have with the speaker is the buttons. They are really big, but you have to hit them right in the center for the push to register when changing volume up and down, so it's sort of pointless to have them be as big as they are since pressing anywhere but the center doesn't do anything. This is a minor complaint though, just something I noticed while being nitpicky for the purpose of doing a review.Price would be another issue. I'm glad I got a free sample because this is an expensive speaker and I don't know if I'd be willing to spend the money to get one this nice on my own. You really do get what you pay for, though, so if you are someone who wants a really quality speaker and are willing to put in the money, it's great. The cheaper speaker we had was enough for us, but now that we have seen the difference between our old speaker and this one we are definitely spoiled and love having one that is so nice.
Indoors, outdoors, rain or shine, it's a simple working and great sounding speaker. It doesn't "boom" as much as some other bigger speakers, but you can always pay more for those. This one is excellent for "general" around the house use. I use it to amp up the sound of TV shows or movies that I may be watching on my tablet while multitasking painting, doing laundry, or cleaning. The app that goes with it helps fine-tune the sound. I'm not really sure how long the battery lasts because I've never run out of battery. I'll use it for days, and think surely it needs to be charged, so then I charge it. I thought at one point that I had lost it for a month, but then found it, and thought the battery would have self drained, but no, it had plenty of charge. No issues. I ... MoreIndoors, outdoors, rain or shine, it's a simple working and great sounding speaker. It doesn't "boom" as much as some other bigger speakers, but you can always pay more for those. This one is excellent for "general" around the house use. I use it to amp up the sound of TV shows or movies that I may be watching on my tablet while multitasking painting, doing laundry, or cleaning. The app that goes with it helps fine-tune the sound. I'm not really sure how long the battery lasts because I've never run out of battery. I'll use it for days, and think surely it needs to be charged, so then I charge it. I thought at one point that I had lost it for a month, but then found it, and thought the battery would have self drained, but no, it had plenty of charge. No issues. I have bigger speakers, and smaller speakers, but this one fits the niche of what I more often want - solid sound with ample battery power, in a rugged exterior. I got it on a "sale of the day" and have no regrets. I highly recommend it.
Was torn between the JBL Flip or Charge and this UE Boom. I don’t think that I would have been unhappy with the JBL, but I know I am VERY happy with this! I’m no audiophile, but this does everything I need it to do. It’s loud, clear, has a good range of sound, is fairly intuitive and, most important to me, is durable. I’m rough on stuff and don’t have time to worry about treating it carefully. (That’s a big reason I didn’t go with the JBL, that has the exposed speaker cones.) I have zero concerns with damaging this one. It’s tough and rugged with bomb-proof controls. I can’t speak to its water proof-ness, but have no reason to doubt that it lives up to its billing. Fits perfectly in a cup holder. Won’t roll away, due to raised control panel and stands up securely. ... MoreWas torn between the JBL Flip or Charge and this UE Boom. I don’t think that I would have been unhappy with the JBL, but I know I am VERY happy with this! I’m no audiophile, but this does everything I need it to do. It’s loud, clear, has a good range of sound, is fairly intuitive and, most important to me, is durable. I’m rough on stuff and don’t have time to worry about treating it carefully. (That’s a big reason I didn’t go with the JBL, that has the exposed speaker cones.) I have zero concerns with damaging this one. It’s tough and rugged with bomb-proof controls. I can’t speak to its water proof-ness, but have no reason to doubt that it lives up to its billing. Fits perfectly in a cup holder. Won’t roll away, due to raised control panel and stands up securely. Big volume buttons.The only negatives—none of which are dealbreakers for me: Doesn’t charge devices, doesn’t have a battery life indicator and doesn’t turn off when it loses connectivity. Other than that, I couldn’t be happier. Deal of the Day price made it even more appealing. Stop shopping around and buy one!
These are truly great Bluetooth speakers. I've had 5 of them over the past 3 years. They are quite loud for their size with very good sound quality.Battery life is good, up to 8 hours, but not if it's up all the way. I read a review that said you couldn't listen to music while they are charging. That is false. I often listen to one or more of mine while charging.They are also very durable and waterproof.One thing to watch though is the charging ports. They are mounted on the top beneath a rubber cover. But, if you aren't very careful, dirt will build up inside the port causing the unit to malfunction and melt the port. I've had this happen to 3 so far. The charging boards are nearly impossible to find anywhere but it can be bypassed with a stripped USB cord. ... MoreThese are truly great Bluetooth speakers. I've had 5 of them over the past 3 years. They are quite loud for their size with very good sound quality.Battery life is good, up to 8 hours, but not if it's up all the way. I read a review that said you couldn't listen to music while they are charging. That is false. I often listen to one or more of mine while charging.They are also very durable and waterproof.One thing to watch though is the charging ports. They are mounted on the top beneath a rubber cover. But, if you aren't very careful, dirt will build up inside the port causing the unit to malfunction and melt the port. I've had this happen to 3 so far. The charging boards are nearly impossible to find anywhere but it can be bypassed with a stripped USB cord. Not ideal, but it works and saves a great speaker from the trash.They also can pair with each other so you can have 50 or maybe 100 all working together.
I would NEVER buy UE Again!! I write a lot of positive reviews and I loved my UE Booms when they first came out (I bought THREE of them!) BUT... after a year, when they pushed an upgrade of their software, I could no longer connect them with their software. They took away the ONE feature that I bought them for - a portable mulitspeaker stereo system for the outside. Their tech support in INDIA took hours to tell me that- because they pushed a downgrade to their BOOM APP, I could no longer do what I purchased these now worthless lumps for, and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find anyone to speak with at UE in the USA.Forgive me, but a company that purposely downgrades their apps, which removes features from products REMOTELY will never get another penny of my money. LOGITECH ... MoreI would NEVER buy UE Again!! I write a lot of positive reviews and I loved my UE Booms when they first came out (I bought THREE of them!) BUT... after a year, when they pushed an upgrade of their software, I could no longer connect them with their software. They took away the ONE feature that I bought them for - a portable mulitspeaker stereo system for the outside. Their tech support in INDIA took hours to tell me that- because they pushed a downgrade to their BOOM APP, I could no longer do what I purchased these now worthless lumps for, and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find anyone to speak with at UE in the USA.Forgive me, but a company that purposely downgrades their apps, which removes features from products REMOTELY will never get another penny of my money. LOGITECH owns UE. Someone at one or both of these companies, planned and rolled out this upgrade. This was a human decision to downgrade everyone's speakers remotely -without knowledge or approval. My opinion is 'Find another company that has some consideration for their customers!'
This review is exclusively for WLL TECH SOLUTIONS INC, not the other sellers. The product itself is fine.First of all, shipping was delayed for five days until I contacted both walmart and the company on the day after it was supposed to arrive. When it arrived, it wasn't even the right item or color scheme. I was sent a UE Megaboom, which is fine for my uses but it is much bigger than a UE 2 and not everyone would be okay with this.Most importantly though, this speaker is NOT in new condition as advertised. I personally don't mind that it's refurbished, but it would have been nice to know this ahead of time. It came in a carrying case and included a charging cable. The cable they sent was heavily used, and had writing on it in sharpie from its previous owner. ... MoreThis review is exclusively for WLL TECH SOLUTIONS INC, not the other sellers. The product itself is fine.First of all, shipping was delayed for five days until I contacted both walmart and the company on the day after it was supposed to arrive. When it arrived, it wasn't even the right item or color scheme. I was sent a UE Megaboom, which is fine for my uses but it is much bigger than a UE 2 and not everyone would be okay with this.Most importantly though, this speaker is NOT in new condition as advertised. I personally don't mind that it's refurbished, but it would have been nice to know this ahead of time. It came in a carrying case and included a charging cable. The cable they sent was heavily used, and had writing on it in sharpie from its previous owner. The speaker itself was mostly good, with one minor scuff mark on the end. Everything seems to work alright so far, so at least there's that.I lucked out in that I got what I was looking for, but overall customer experience was very poor.
From the outset let me say this is about the ability to couple 2 Boom 2's together. There are 2 methods to do this, with the app or without the app. With the app impossible, download, update, reset, repeat and still nothing, contact UE and no response at all. Without the app, review all internet based tutorials and follow tips and tricks, nothing then on the 3rd day it worked. Nervously turn it off and try again and nothing, day 4 success again but difficult to replicate, day 5 now 30% of attempts successful. Based on this and their arrogance in not responding I suggest reading the general reviews and chose another brand, there are better units out there.
The speaker sounds great. I would give it the slight advantage over my Altec Lansing Mini Life Jacket 3 as far as the quality of sound goes. The speaker looks great. The black and red colors go very well together. It's waterproof, which is a huge plus because you can use it to listen to music while in the shower. There are a lot of things to love about the speaker.So, you may be wondering why I am only giving it 3 stars and not 5. The reason is the same reason why I ultimately decided to return the speaker for a refund. The reason is the tap controls. In order to stop a song from playing or skip to the next song, you have to tap the top of the speaker (once for stop, twice for skip). There are no actual buttons for these functions. Now, this doesn't seem like a ... MoreThe speaker sounds great. I would give it the slight advantage over my Altec Lansing Mini Life Jacket 3 as far as the quality of sound goes. The speaker looks great. The black and red colors go very well together. It's waterproof, which is a huge plus because you can use it to listen to music while in the shower. There are a lot of things to love about the speaker.So, you may be wondering why I am only giving it 3 stars and not 5. The reason is the same reason why I ultimately decided to return the speaker for a refund. The reason is the tap controls. In order to stop a song from playing or skip to the next song, you have to tap the top of the speaker (once for stop, twice for skip). There are no actual buttons for these functions. Now, this doesn't seem like a big deal, until you actually attempt to do it. It's a complete mess. Half of the time, it reads 2 taps (skip) as 1 tap (stop) and your music just stops playing instead of going to the next song. I need to mention that the button that turns the speaker off is also on the top of the speaker. So, half of the time when you tap the speaker once to stop a song from playing, it turns the speaker off entirely because it thinks you are hitting the power button. Not to mention the fact that in order to get the tap controls to work at all, you don't just have to lightly tap the speaker, you have to hit it, hard. If you tap it gently the way that they show in the UE commercials, half of the time nothing happens at all. It's frustrating beyond belief, especially for someone like me who likes to change songs frequently. Another frustrating thing about the speaker is that there is absolutely no way to skip backward to the previous song. You can skip forward to the next song, but you cannot skip backward to the previous song. Or replay a song. This is extremely annoying and frustrating for me, especially coming from using the Altec Lansing Mini Life Jacket 3, which can do all of these things with ease. Having used that speaker, I know that it's very possible to just put skip forward, skip backward, play, pause, and on/off functionality and still only have 3 buttons on the speaker. That speaker has all of these features and only has 3 buttons (the same amount of buttons that the UE Boom 2 has), so I am baffled as to why UE didn't put the same functionality in their buttons.Overall, it is a good speaker as far as sound quality and aesthetics go, but it does not measure up to other speakers as far as controls go. Unfortunately, that area impacts the listening experience a lot and is a deal breaker for me. Overall, I cannot recommend this speaker.
I wanted to get a portable travel speaker in addition to my home Sonos setup. Googling for ratings and reviews, I came up with UE Boom 2, JBL Charge 3 and Bose SoundLink Mini II as the frontrunners from nearly all reviewers. All 3 of these have very high ratings on Amazon both in the US and the UK, so the choice likely comes down to personal preferences.I decided against the Bose since it can’t pair with a second speaker for a stereo setup, is slightly older, doesn’t look as attractive (quite a dated look in fact) and the sound quality reviews do not put it above the other two.Then I couldn’t decide between the UE and JBL, so purchased both. I compared them side-by-side for a week with the following observations:1) Batteries on both last for a ridiculously ... MoreI wanted to get a portable travel speaker in addition to my home Sonos setup. Googling for ratings and reviews, I came up with UE Boom 2, JBL Charge 3 and Bose SoundLink Mini II as the frontrunners from nearly all reviewers. All 3 of these have very high ratings on Amazon both in the US and the UK, so the choice likely comes down to personal preferences.I decided against the Bose since it can’t pair with a second speaker for a stereo setup, is slightly older, doesn’t look as attractive (quite a dated look in fact) and the sound quality reviews do not put it above the other two.Then I couldn’t decide between the UE and JBL, so purchased both. I compared them side-by-side for a week with the following observations:1) Batteries on both last for a ridiculously long time. Yes, JBL lasts longer, but the 15 hour battery on UE is a week of regular use. What other electronics do you charge so rarely?2) Both speakers are very loud. Assuming you’re not hosting an actual dance party, it would be surprising for either to run out of volume. JBL stays composed all the way to the max, maybe keep UE one notch above the very max on the bass-heavy songs.3) UE has crisper high and mid frequencies, while JBL has a deeper, bigger bass. It took me a week to decide that this constitutes a tie for me, but most people would likely prefer the bigger bass of the JBL. Also, UE gives you the 360 sound, which is quite neat: you can put it in the middle of the room rather than against a wall. This could work as an effective sound multiplier since you reduce the distance to people if using it in a group.I compared both to a single Sonos 1 speaker (much heavier and non-portable), and Sonos is significantly better across the entire frequency range than either UE or JBL. This is not to say that that UE or JBL produce low quality sound: they both sound surprisingly good for their size. My point is that we shouldn’t obsess with the sound quality comparison between the two because neither is close to being a reference sound device.4) Size is important here. JBL is over 50% larger than the UE, which makes a huge difference. Please see the photos: the JBL is longer, wider and heavier than the UE. This was the main factor in declaring UE the winner by a good margin. The speakers are roughly tied before the size comes into play, and the UE is just a lot smaller. I am simply more likely to take it with me when travelling.5) Other features. Both speakers are waterproof. Charge 3 will charge your phone, which is not exactly useless, but probably not a deciding feature. UE feels much sleeker design-wise, with fewer buttons and better symmetry.To summarize: JBL Charge 3 is a great speaker, worthy of a 5 star rating. However, for my preferences, UE Boom 2 was the clear winner given its much more compact size and neater design due to them being close to tied in other areas, including sound quality.
To start with, I decided to buy this speaker based on a great experience I had previously with Megaboom version. I found this discounted for great deal. I have been using it for 5 months now, and below is the detail for my 1 star review:1- built: very nicely built with high quality materials. seems durable and tough. I believe it is water resistant but I have not tested personally.2- Battery life: lasts for very long time. I am talking weeks of mild daily usage.3- User friendly: app lets you turn it on/off, equalizer, set alarm, connect with other speakers, and even become a DJ for your friends who have UE speakers.4- Upgradability: this speaker firmware can be updated by manufacturer, so you are not stuck with the same version.5- Compatibility with iOS. ... MoreTo start with, I decided to buy this speaker based on a great experience I had previously with Megaboom version. I found this discounted for great deal. I have been using it for 5 months now, and below is the detail for my 1 star review:1- built: very nicely built with high quality materials. seems durable and tough. I believe it is water resistant but I have not tested personally.2- Battery life: lasts for very long time. I am talking weeks of mild daily usage.3- User friendly: app lets you turn it on/off, equalizer, set alarm, connect with other speakers, and even become a DJ for your friends who have UE speakers.4- Upgradability: this speaker firmware can be updated by manufacturer, so you are not stuck with the same version.5- Compatibility with iOS. this speaker is designed for iOS devices. It connects seamlessly with iPhone, iPad, and macs. I am not sure if you can access all features from other operating systems. Very nice integration with iOS.6- Sound: this is where my disappointment lie. This is a "speaker", and if it cannot "speak" it is worthless. the sound is super muffled, as it is coming out of tube. It can get loud, but the louder you get the more muffled. The sound experience is completely different from Megaboom. I am even thinking that mine is defective at some point. you are better off with a cheap amazon speaker from Oontz or anker than this. I don't understand why they charge premium price for mediocre (at most) product. I am very unhappy with it and feel deceived by it. i realized this fact after a while of use and out of "return window" for BestBuy. otherwise i would definitely return it. I do not recommend this to anyone.For BestBuy, awesome speedy delivery as usual. I shop all my electronics from BB.
| General | |
| Product Type | Speaker - for portable use |
| Hands-Free Function | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Protection | Shockproof, waterproof |