Short answer: the Bose Portable Smart Speaker on measured sound quality, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 on price. The Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 179 medium speakers, rated 3.4/5, at $399. The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 ranks #113, rated 2.9/5, at $114.99, $284.01 cheaper.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the better-sounding option. A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the lighter, tougher pick. A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. At 1.4 lbs (620 g) it weighs much less than the Bose Portable Smart Speaker at 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The catch: Not much improvement over the old ones.
Buy the Bose Portable Smart Speaker when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $114.99 |
| Ranked | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #113 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (via app) |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
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