Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom. It ranks #87 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79; the Bose SoundLink Color II ranks #98 and costs $139, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Bose SoundLink Color II gets right: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. The tradeoff: Boosted bass on Color II.
What the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom offers: IP67 rated and floats. Set against that: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
One note: the Bose SoundLink Color II is discontinued, but it still ranks #98 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose SoundLink Color II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose SoundLink Color II at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #98 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #87 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g | 0.9 lbs / 425 g |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | - |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon
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 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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 |
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- Links
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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom: $79 Discontinued
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact, light, and simple to use.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Dip at 9khz. Low mid bass distortion. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 425 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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