Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It ranks #19 of 172 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $299.99. The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ranks #105, rated 3.0/5, at $191.99, $108 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen is the better-sounding, lighter pick. Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes). At 1.2 lbs (558 g) it weighs much less than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at 2 lbs (925 g). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass.
Why pick the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. The tradeoff: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $108 saving on the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes).
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IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $191.99 |
| Ranked | #19 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (558 g) | 2 lbs (925 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 1.8” x 5.2” (133 x 46 x 133 mm) | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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