Short answer: the JBL Grip. It ranks #99 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $99.95; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ranks #108, rated 3.0/5, and costs $191.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Grip is the lighter choice. Ambient light on the back with settable themes. At 0.8 lbs (385 g) it weighs much less than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 at 2 lbs (925 g). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. Watch for: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is the longer-running pick. IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 14 for the JBL Grip. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the JBL Grip. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Grip | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.95 | $191.99 |
| Ranked | #99 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #108 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (UE | BOOM app) |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz | 70Hz |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) | 2 lbs (925 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Strap | Yes (strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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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
JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon $99.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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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