Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB20. It ranks #94 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $129; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 ranks #132 and costs $200, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sony SRS-XB20 offers: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. 12 hour battery life. Watch for: Sounds thin at higher volumes. Bass falls away quickly.
What the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 offers: IP67 rated, floats, and finally uses USB-C charging. 20 hour battery life. ‘PartyUp’ feature syncs multiple UE speakers together. Watch for: A lot of distortion at higher volumes. Rolled off treble. Not very loud. They really screwed this up
Buy the Sony SRS-XB20. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers; there are better options higher up.
Battery life favors the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: rated for 20 hours against 12 hours for the Sony SRS-XB20.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB20 | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $200 |
| Ranked | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #132 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) | 3.4" x 3.4" x 8.9" (87 x 87 x 225 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| App | Yes (SongPal) | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50x50mm full-range + 2x 55x86mm passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Max Volume | - | 91dB |
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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
Sony SRS-XB20: $129 eBay
Pros: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. 12 hour battery life.
Cons: Sounds thin at higher volumes. Bass falls away quickly.
Full Sony SRS-XB20 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (SongPal) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: $200 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally uses USB-C charging. 20 hour battery life. ‘PartyUp’ feature syncs multiple UE speakers together.
Cons: A lot of distortion at higher volumes. Rolled off treble. Not very loud. They really screwed this up
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 3.4" x 8.9" (87 x 87 x 225 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50x50mm full-range + 2x 55x86mm passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Reddit Search for Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Review
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