Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3, if you are buying new. The Bose Soundlink Mini ranks higher than it (#74 vs #108 of 175 medium speakers, 3.4/5 vs 3.0/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is still sold new at $191.99.
The Bose Soundlink Mini is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Its bass reaches about 58Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at 2 lbs (925 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 lacks. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is the longer-running, tougher pick. IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 7 for the Bose Soundlink Mini. It is rated IPX7, while the Bose Soundlink Mini has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Mini lacks. The catch: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 new; the Bose Soundlink Mini is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $191.99 |
| Ranked | #74 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #108 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX7 |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 2 lbs (925 g) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | Micro USB |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (App EQ) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 Mini: $125.00 Discontinued Amazon $125.00 eBay
Newer model: the Bose Soundlink Mini 2, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Jul 2015 (also discontinued). It adds stereo pairing. Battery life goes from 7 to 10 hours. See every Bose SoundLink Mini generation.
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
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Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: $191.99 Amazon $191.99 eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4, ranked lower, rated 2.1/5, released Jun 2024. See every Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Boom and Megaboom generation.
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 →
| Released | Sep 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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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