Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 on price, the Sony SRS-XB30 for its power bank, though neither ranks well in its class. The Boom 4 is IP67 rated, floats and finally charges via USB-C instead of Micro-USB, and it costs $49.01 less, though it is not much of an improvement over the old ones. The Sony doubles as a power bank for your phone but sounds muffled, worse than an XB20. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 164 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Earfun Uboom L instead, ranked #2 at $49.79.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sony SRS-XB30 is discontinued.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB30 is rated for 24 hours versus 15 hours for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 Discontinued | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #127 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #110 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.2” x 3.4” (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (via app) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Ultimate Ears Boom 4:
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
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- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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-XB30: $199 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
Pros: A compact 1kg portable with IPX5 splash protection, aux input, LDAC/AAC support, Sony’s app, speakerphone capability, power-bank output, stereo pairing and Party Chain linking. It reaches a useful 95dB maximum level and has a claimed 24-hour battery life at moderate volume, making it a convenient older outdoor option. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Independent lab listening rates music fidelity only fair: bass has impact but is boomy and lacks the deepest notes, while the midrange can sound hazy, muffled and grainy. Its micro-USB charging and older Bluetooth 4.2 platform now feel dated, so it is best considered for features and used-market value rather than sound quality. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.2” x 3.4” (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
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Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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