The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a cylindrical battery-powered speaker that follows in the footsteps of the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. It's still one of Ultimate Ears' most portable offerings, though this new iteration adds USB-C charging. Beyond this welcome addition, it's hard to see if there have been meaningful improvements when it comes to features. Lets see if there have been any tweaks under the hood that warrant an upgrade.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is okay for music. Its design means that it struggles to reproduce thumpy bass frequencies, which can leave something to be desired when blasting kick-heavy genres, like hip-hop and house. There's some roll-off in the treble range, too, that causes sibilants, like cymbals, to sound muffled and veiled. Thankfully, you have some scope for sound sculpting via the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app, though. As with other Ultimate Ears speakers, the BOOM 4's excellent directivity and stereo capabilities offer a compelling soundstage performance. It can get quite loud for its size, too, with minimal compression as you crank up the volume.
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Excellent directivity.
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Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
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No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
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Limited playback controls.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is acceptable for watching videos and movies. It can reach top volume without many compression artifacts that can impact audio quality, and its excellent directivity means you don't need to think too hard about positioning yourself relative to the speaker. Its balanced mid-range reproduction means dialogue is clear and detailed, too. Latency falls within good limits, though if you're watching while paired with an Android device, you'll be a little more susceptible to lip-sync issues. That said, the lack of bass presence can detract from the intensity of fast-paced cinematic sequences, and it can't get loud enough for larger watch parties.
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USB-C charging.
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Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
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Limited playback controls.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a decent choice for podcasts. It's small and lightweight enough that it can be carried around or clipped to a bag, and its clear and detailed mid-range reproduction means your favorite hosts' voices are easily understandable. The speaker's cylindrical 360-degree design also means that it has great directivity, so audio sounds consistent across different listening angles. You can crank up the volume without worrying about compression affecting audio clarity, too. That said, it can't get particularly loud, so you'll need to keep it close by to follow along to podcasts.
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Excellent directivity.
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Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
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No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
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Limited playback controls.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities, so it's not a good fit for this use.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a good fit for outdoors use. Its svelte, lightweight design means that it can easily be stowed in a bag or a larger pocket, and it can even be clipped on to your person for easy transportation. Its 12 hours of battery life means that you can squeeze a few listening sessions out of it while on a camping trip without needing to recharge. Plus, its excellent directivity and decent dynamics performance means you can play some tunes around a campfire with everyone enjoying a similar audio experience.
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Excellent directivity.
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USB-C charging.
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Over 12 hours of continuous battery life.
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No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
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Doesn't get very loud.
- 6.7 Music
- 6.1 Videos/Movies
- 7.4 Podcasts
- 3.1 Voice Assistant
- 7.8 Outdoors
- Updated Sep 27, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Sep 23, 2024: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 18, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 07, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 comes in four different color variants: 'Active Black,' 'Raspberry Red,' 'Cobalt Blue,' and 'Enchanting Lilac' (here's a picture of its label). If you encounter another variant of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is a small, cylindrical Bluetooth speaker that follows on from the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. However, besides the implementation of USB-C charging, there's not much in the way of meaningful upgrades to the features or performance. For the same price, you can also pick up the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4, which features a more balanced default sound profile in a more portable form factor. That said, the WONDERBOOM 4 doesn't have a compatible companion app, so you won't have access to an EQ or presets beyond 'Outdoor' and 'Podcast' modes. Users who want a similarly light, portable speaker that can deliver a bit more bass will want to look at the JBL Flip 6, too, though its continuous battery life is less than half of the Ultimate Ears'.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best Ultimate Ears speakers.
The JBL Flip 6 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are both compact, cylindrical speakers that can easily be carried around in a bag or large pocket. The key difference maker is that the Ultimate Ears features a 360 design that allows it to reproduce audio more consistently across different listening angles. It also has a much longer continuous battery life. For this reason, it's a better pick for most uses, including outdoor use. That said, the JBL features slightly more present bass and treble reproduction, which music lovers will appreciate.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are, by and large, the same speaker with one difference that will appeal to many users: the previous generation charges via a micro-USB cable and the new generation opts for USB-C charging instead. Beyond this, differences in performance are marginal at best. The newer iteration features slightly more bass (though it's still far from bass-heavy) and a less rolled-off treble. That said, it has a slightly shorter continuous battery life. Users who already own the BOOM 3 and aren't desperate for USB-C charging would be advised to hang on to their current speaker.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is a better portable speaker for most uses than the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4. While they're both available at similar price points, the WONDERBOOM 4 represents better value for most uses. It's more portable, has a more balanced default sound profile, and features Bluetooth multi-device pairing. Otherwise, the two speakers are very similar when it comes to soundstage performance, battery life, and build quality.
The Bose SoundLink Flex and the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 are portable speakers that feature some key differences that can help you make a buying decision. The Bose features a more balanced sound profile that can more accurately reproduce the details of music and movies. It also has better controls and a built-in mic that can work with the voice assistant on your iOS or Android device for rudimentary voice assistant support. That said, the Ultimate Ears is undoubtedly the better pick for outdoor use, thanks to its excellent directivity and much longer battery life. It can also get similarly loud without compressing as much.
Test Results
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is very similar in appearance to its predecessor, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3. It's small and cylindrical in shape, designed to sit vertically on any surface. It features the brand's signature oversized volume +/- buttons, with additional controls found on the top of the speaker. There's also a discreet built-in hook on the top that you can use to fasten it to a bag or strap. You charge it via a covered USB-C port on the bottom. It comes in a few different finish options, including 'Active Black,' 'Raspberry Red,' 'Cobalt Blue,' and 'Enchanting Lilac.'
This speaker is extremely portable and easy to bring around with you on your day-to-day. It's roughly the size of a small bottle or large can (to the point where it fits in cupholders), so it can be easily carried in one hand and slipped into a tote bag. It's light, too, and could even be stowed away in a large jacket pocket in a pinch without weighing you down too much.
As with the previous generation, this speaker has an outstanding build quality. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, making it suitable for submersion in water for up to 30 minutes. The manufacturer also claims it can float in water and that it's impact resistant, though they don't specify to what extent. The fabric covering the driver grille is taut and grippy, so it stays in your hand while you hold it. There are rubber end caps at the top and bottom of the speaker, as well as a rubber flap that covers the USB-C charging port.
This speaker comes with a basic set of controls that allow you to adjust functions like volume, pairing, and audio playback, with dedicated buttons for each. The buttons themselves are tactile and nicely texturized. You can press both volume buttons simultaneously to voice feedback on the battery level. There are also chimes that sound when entering Bluetooth pairing mode and when turning the speaker on/off. The buttons themselves aren't labelled in the most intuitive way, though, so it's not obvious at first glance which functions each button corresponds to.
- Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 speaker
- USB-C charging cable
- Quick start guide and warranty information
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 has a sub-par frequency response accuracy. While there's slightly more bass than the previous generation, this speaker is by no means bass-heavy. The thumpy four-on-the-floor kicks of house and techno tracks lack some oomph, though their punchy attack can still be heard. There's some roll-off in the treble range, too, that can cause sibilants, like cymbals, to sound a little dull. That said, the mid-range is well-balanced, so vocals and speech are reproduced with plenty of detail. You can also use the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app to alter the sound somewhat, although this won't help you overcome the lack of bass that's inherent to its design.
As with other Ultimate Ears speakers, this speaker's soundstage performance is incredible. It can playback stereo content without downmixing to mono. The speaker's directivity is the standout feature here, as it can deliver audio consistently across almost every listening angle, thanks to its 360-degree design.
The dynamics performance is decent; while it can't get particularly loud, it's enough to fill a small room with sound. There's also not much compression present as you turn the volume up, save for some pumping artifacts in the bass range.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 has an excellent battery life performance. The manufacturer advertises up to 15 hours of playtime, and we were able to achieve close to this, with 12.1 hours in testing. Of course, battery life varies according to numerous factors, so your experience will vary. There's a handy auto-off timer that helps you conserve battery life by shutting the speaker off automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity. Many users will also be happy to see the inclusion of USB-C charging with this generation, too, marking a switch from the micro-USB ports used in previous BOOM speakers.
This Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, which lets you adjust a range of parameters and use unique features, like the Megaphone function (which lets you speak into your phone's mic and play it back on the speaker). You can also use the PartyUp feature to pair with other BOOM 4, MEGABOOM 4, EVERBOOM, EPICBOOM, and HYPERBOOM speakers or even pair with previous generation BOOM speakers (in stereo or party mode configurations). It's worth double-checking if your speaker is compatible before attempting this, though. There's a graphic EQ and presets for sound profile adjustment, too. You can see the app in action in our demonstration video.
This speaker can't be used with a wired connection. It's USB-C input is used only for charging.
The Bluetooth connectivity is great. Latency with both Android and iOS devices falls within good levels, so you're unlikely to experience lip-sync issues between the audio and video if you use this speaker to soundtrack movies or TV shows. Sadly, there's no multi-device pairing, so you'll have to disconnect from one device to use another.