Short answer: the JBL Flip 7, if you are buying new. The JBL Flip 4 ranks higher than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 (#83 vs #114 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the JBL Flip 7, is rated 4.2/5 at $89.95 and is still sold new.
The JBL Flip 4 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. At 1.1 lbs (510 g), JBL Flip 4 combines 2x 40mm fullrange with Bluetooth and aux. Its bass reaches about 66Hz before falling 10dB, against 91Hz for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 lacks. Watch for: Battery failures are common.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 does well: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Flip 4 lacks. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the JBL Flip 7, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Flip 4; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 4 | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $70 Discontinued | $134.99 |
| Ranked | #83 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #114 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (510 g) | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.8” x 2.6” (175 x 70 x 65 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (Manufacturer specified) | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Flip 4 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Flip 4
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Flip 4
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs JBL Flip 4
- JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Flip 4
- JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip 4
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
JBL Flip 4: $70 Discontinued Amazon $70 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Flip 7, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5, released Mar 2025. See every JBL Flip generation.
Pros: At 510 g, JBL Flip 4 combines 2x 40mm fullrange with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 12 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, ipx7 protection, up to 92db and single-box playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of 66Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 66Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Battery failures are common. Discontinued.
Full JBL Flip 4 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.8” x 2.6” (175 x 70 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (510 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $134.99 Amazon $134.99 eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5, released Jun 2024. See every Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Boom and Megaboom generation.
Pros: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. Measured bass extension of 91Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. 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 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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