Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Color II for bass, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for durability. The Megaboom 3 is IP67 rated, floats and survives drops from up to 1 meter, but it is not stereo and has barely any bass. The Color II is comfortable and tough with its soft-touch rubber coating, though its bass is boosted.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Bose SoundLink Color II is discontinued.
Battery life favors the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: rated for 20 hours against 8 hours for the Bose SoundLink Color II.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the Bose SoundLink Color II, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $111.63 |
| Ranked | #121 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) | 2 lbs (925 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (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 Megaboom 3: $111.63 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4, ranked lower, rated 2.1/5.
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life: about double most speakers this size. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2018. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (925 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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