The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4, released in 2024, is the next-gen of the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. It's equipped with app support, water and dust resistance, and a USB-C charge port. Externally, it looks like the previous model, so let's check out what's going on under the hood.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is decent for music. True to its name, it adds extra boom and punch to your favorite tracks (which you can also cue up with the press of a button). You can also adjust the frequency response in the app's EQ. Thanks to its 360-degree design, the speaker has remarkable directivity, so your music sounds about the same across angles. However, the speaker doesn't get very loud, but you can always use the 'PartyUp' function to add another compatible Ultimate Ears speaker to fill out the space.
360-design means it sounds the same across angles.
EQ and 'PartyUp' features expand its sound profile and utility.
Very portable.
Can't get very loud.
No multi-device pairing.
Bass compresses at high volumes.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is okay for watching videos and movies. Its frequency response trends towards warm, which can slightly veil dialogue, but you can EQ it in the app. Its size is too small to appreciate the stereo mix of movies. It also doesn't get very loud, so if you're watching TV in a large room, it'll be harder to hear with more low-end compression at high volumes. Connectivity is limited to Bluetooth without other wireless or wired options. That said, its latency with iOS, in particular, is very low, ensuring no lip-sync mismatch. However, latency is higher with Android devices, so your mileage may vary with different apps, too.
360-design means it sounds the same across angles.
EQ and 'PartyUp' features expand its sound profile and utility.
Low latency with iOS.
Can't get very loud.
Bass compresses at high volumes.
Higher latency with Android with no low latency mode.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is decent for podcasts. It's a bit warm by default, but you can EQ it, like trying out the 'Podcast' EQ preset, for instance, if you find speech sounds less clear. Because of its lightweight, you can easily tote it around with you. If you're listening to your favorite show while moving around, it'll sound virtually the same, thanks to its 360-degree design, but its max volume isn't very loud. The speaker also lacks multi-device pairing.
360-design means it sounds the same across angles.
EQ and 'PartyUp' features expand its sound profile and utility.
Very portable.
Can't get very loud.
No multi-device pairing.
Higher frequencies are somewhat pushed down in the mix by default.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 lacks a mic, so you can't use it to access a voice assistant.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is very good for outdoor use. Its size and weight are portable enough to take with you, and its IP67 rating ensures the speaker can handle dust and water exposure. Due to its 360-degree design, your audio sounds nearly the same across angles, and you can use 'PartyUp' to add compatible speakers from the same brand. Its long Bluetooth range means you don't have to worry about your signal cutting out. Plus, the app's EQ lets you adjust the tuning. Unfortunately, the speaker doesn't get very loud, and it compresses somewhat in the bass when set to its max volume setting. It also lacks multi-device pairing.
Well-built with IP67 rating.
360-design means it sounds the same across angles.
EQ and 'PartyUp' features expand its sound profile and utility.
Very portable.
Can't get very loud.
No multi-device pairing.
Bass compresses at high volumes.
Changelog
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Updated Dec 19, 2025:
After updating this speaker to firmware 2.0.17, we updated the Frequency Response Accuracy and Dynamics boxes of this review.
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Updated May 20, 2025:
We added a reference to the JBL Charge 6 in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
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Updated Feb 04, 2025:
The Dynamics box was updated to mention the Minirig 4.
- Updated Oct 09, 2024: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 comes in four colors. Our model is 'Active Black' (you can see our unit's label here), and we expect it to perform similarly to units in 'Enchanting Lilac,' 'Cobalt Blue,' and 'Raspberry Red.' If you encounter another variant of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is one of the brand's middle-sized portable cylinder speakers, with more oomph than the smaller Ultimate Ears BOOM 4. Like the portable JBL Charge 5, the MEGABOOM 4 is dust-resistant and waterproof and gets loud enough to fill a small room. However, if you want a full-out party, you'll need something larger like the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM.
Check out the best portable Bluetooth speakers, best waterproof speakers, and best Bluetooth speakers for bass for other options.
The JBL Charge 5 and Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 are toe-toe in many respects, tilting the scales at the same weight and IP67 ratings. Which is better depends a bit on how you use them, but by default, the Ultimate Ears is bassier, while the JBL is a bit brighter and more balanced. Both have equalizers, though the Ultimate Ears app's EQ controls more frequencies. The JBL can get louder and has more conventional controls. It's also less likely to tip over on an uneven surface. However, the Ultimate Ears has impact resistance and a 360-degree design, ensuring your audio sounds the same across angles.
Externally, the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 and Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 look a lot alike. Their specs are nearly the same except for the updated USB-C charge port on the MEGABOOM 4 and the ability to skip back a track. The MEGABOOM 4 has a bit more low-end extension, and it sounds somewhat better and more balanced. That said, it doesn't get quite as loud as the MEGABOOM 3, which uses an older micro-USB charge port, and it sounds less detailed in the highs. However, both have EQ, and they're not too dissimilar sounding overall.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 and the JBL Charge 6 are similarly sized portable Bluetooth speakers that are built to withstand the elements outdoors. The JBL gets a bit louder and has a more even bass by default, while the Ultimate Ears has a longer battery life and has a 360-degree design that means it sounds more or less the same regardless of your listening angle. The Ultimate Ears has a big boost in the high-bass that you may like or dislike depending on your preferences. If you have Auracast-compatible JBL speakers, you can pair the Charge 6 with them, while if you have other compatible Ultimate Ears speakers, you can pair the MEGABOOM 4 with them in PartyUp mode. So the choice may come down to whether you're already invested in a particular brand's lineup.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 and Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 are very similar speakers, both in looks, durability and app support. The BOOM 4 is smaller and easier to take along with you, but it sounds noticeably less clear with veiled treble, which you can EQ. In contrast, the slightly larger size of the MEGABOOM 4 allows it to reproduce more bass frequencies that the BOOM 4 can't even with EQ and its battery is rated to last longer.
Test Results
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