Updated with a USB-C charging port and a 'Podcast' mode, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is a portable speaker that projects your audio out 360 degrees. Like the last generation, it retains the same shape and boasts an IP67 rating and impact resistance. With a utilitarian feature set that lacks an app or even a skip to previous track control, let's see if this tough little speaker delivers good sound and functionality.
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is okay for music. Due to the speaker's 360-degree directivity, music sounds virtually the same no matter where you or the speaker are located in the space. That said, its small size can't reproduce the full thump and rumble of bass frequencies, and you're limited to only two EQ presets ('Outdoor' and 'Podcast'). It can't get that loud without noticeable compression in the lower frequencies. Still, its small size and prominent playback buttons are convenient for listening to music in the bedroom or kitchen. You can add a second WONDERBOOM 4 speaker to create a stereo pair.
- 13 hours of battery life.
- 360-degree directivity for easy placement.
- No custom EQ.
- Can't get very loud without noticeable compression.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is not bad for watching videos and movies. It won't astound you with immersive low rumbling during action scenes, but dialogue-heavy content sounds clear. Its 360-degree directivity means you can expect your content to sound as intended regardless of placement in the room, but at high volumes, the sound compresses somewhat, especially in the lower frequencies. You also can experience a bit of lipsync mismatch, although its latency is relatively low, and some apps and devices handle latency differently.
- 13 hours of battery life.
- 360-degree directivity for easy placement.
- No custom EQ.
- Can't get very loud without noticeable compression.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is great for listening to podcasts. Its easy playback controls and 360-degree directivity means you can pop it down anywhere nearby to listen to your favorite podcast hosts, and they'll sound natural. Although the speaker isn't very bassy, most people's voices don't reach into low bass frequencies anyhow. Plus, you can use the 'Podcast' mode to try a different EQ preset to hear speech better.
- 13 hours of battery life.
- 360-degree directivity for easy placement.
- 'Podcast' mode EQ.
- No custom EQ.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 speaker has no microphone, so you can't directly access your voice assistant through the speaker.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is great for outdoor use. Its compact size and rugged build means you can take it with you to soundtrack your trip to the beach or as a companion for a hike. Its 360-degree audio projection means you don't need to worry about ideal placements, while the 13 hours of battery life means the party won't get stopped short. While it's not a very loud speaker at max volume, the 'Outdoor' mode can help adjust the sound profile to make it easier to hear.
- 13 hours of battery life.
- 360-degree directivity for easy placement.
- Portable size.
- 'Outdoors' mode EQ.
- No custom EQ.
- Can't get very loud without noticeable compression.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 26, 2025:
The Soundstage box was updated to mention the Bose SoundLink Plus.
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Updated Jun 12, 2025:
We updated the Controls and App section of this review to clarify that you can pair Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 and Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 models in stereo or Party modes.
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Updated May 15, 2025:
We added a mention of the 'Sand Beige' variant of this speaker to our review.
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Updated May 07, 2025:
We added a reference to the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 in the Battery box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is available in five colors. Our unit is 'Cobalt Blue' (here's its label), and the other colorways are 'Active Black,' 'Sand Beige,' 'Hyper Pink,' and 'Joyous Bright.' We expect these speakers to perform similarly.
If you come across a different variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is more like a subtle update than a completely new design compared to the previous Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. It has an added 'Podcast' mode and updated the charging port to USB-C. The newer speaker sounds a bit brighter overall than the predecessor, but by most measures, they're similar. The WONDERBOOM 4 is a bit bigger than the JBL Clip 5, which is more portable with a sturdy integrated hook, but the WONDERBOOM 4 has a considerably longer battery life, and it sounds less compressed at high output volumes. However, the JBL has a dedicated app with a graphic EQ to customize the sound.
If you want to check out what else you can get, head over to the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, the best budget and cheap Bluetooth speakers, and the best portable Bluetooth speakers.
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 Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM PLAY is essentially a paired-down version of the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4. It comes with an elongated hand strap, which means it can easily be fastened to your hand while you skateboard or run. The iconic oversized volume buttons have also been moved to the top panel, so they're available at your fingertips. However, the WONDERBOOM PLAY is a single-speaker design, which results in a worse soundstage and dynamics performance due to the limitations of a single driver. While the two have a similar frequency response and battery life, the WONDERBOOM 4 has lower latency values. As a result, unless the handheld ergonomics or the slightly lower price are significant selling points for you, the WONDERBOOM 4 is a better choice for most use cases.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 and JBL Flip 6 are both very portable speakers with different pros and cons, so the best one depends on your needs. The Ultimate Ears has a significantly longer battery life, better 360-degree directivity, lower latency for watching videos, and less compression. However, the JBL has app support with a custom EQ to adjust the sound and a bit more low-end extension.
The Bose SoundLink Flex and the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 are both portable speakers with different strengths. Because the Ultimate Ears has a 360-degree design, it has a much better soundstage performance: your audio sounds more or less the same from every angle. On the other hand, the Bose downmixes your audio to mono, and its drivers face forward. The Ultimate Ears also has a much lower Bluetooth latency than the Bose, so it's better suited to watching videos, but different apps and devices compensate for latency in different ways. On the other hand, only the Bose is compatible with your device's Google Assistant or Siri voice assistant, as the Ultimate Ears doesn't have a microphone. If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears is your best bet, as it lasts six hours longer than the Bose.
Test Results
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