Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks #56 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $125; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ranks #83 and costs $163, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Watch for: 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.
What the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 offers: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life - about double most speakers this size. Watch for: 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.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is rated for 20 hours, the Bose Soundlink Mini only 10 hours.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the Bose Soundlink Mini, which has no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $163 |
| Ranked | #56 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 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 Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | Micro USB |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | - |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Max Volume | - | 98dB |
| 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 August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
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 →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
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Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: $163 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life - about double most speakers this size.
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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 98dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs / 925 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs LG Xboom Grab
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