Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the better current buy, while the discontinued Bose SoundLink Color II has a few legacy features that may matter used, though neither ranks well in its class. The Boom 4 ranks #110 of 164 medium speakers at $149.99, ahead of the Bose at #121 for $139; it is also $10.99 less. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 164 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Earfun Uboom L instead, ranked #2 at $49.79.
The Boom 4 is made for poolside and travel use. It floats, carries an IP67 rating, charges over USB-C, runs for a rated 15 hours, and offers app EQ and speaker pairing. Its limitations are modest bass extension, a thuddy low end, and distortion at very high volume, but it is still the more durable and more current everyday speaker.
The SoundLink Color II offers stereo playback, multipoint pairing, a built-in microphone, and Bose Party mode. Its soft-touch rubber exterior is pleasant and tough, yet the older model is only IPX4 splash resistant, charges via Micro USB, lasts a rated eight hours, and is discontinued. Its boosted bass does not extend as deeply as stronger current designs, while the midrange and treble lack detail.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 for lower cost, IP67 waterproofing, floating design, USB-C charging, and the better sound-quality ranking.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Color II only if stereo playback, multipoint pairing, or its built-in microphone matter enough to justify buying discontinued hardware.
Battery life favors the Ultimate Ears Boom 4: rated for 15 hours against 8 hours for the Bose SoundLink Color II.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #121 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #110 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in loop) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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