Short answer: the Boom 3i, and it costs less too. It ranks #71 of 179 medium speakers against the ULT Field 3’s #31, a 40 place gap, while costing $89.01 less.
The Boom 3i’s own review measures it against a well-regarded rival, not just the ULT Field 3. Its pros describe it as designed to directly compete with the JBL Charge 5, with a very similar warm, bass-boosted sound profile, and call it a better value for the money than the Charge 5. Its cons admit it does not go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced as the Charge 5, but say it comes very, very close. The ULT Field 3’s own cons are more pointed: a hollow sound with boosted treble, plus a design where the custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button cannot be used together, leaving bass very weak with ULT off.
One practical note on the Boom 3i: an earlier firmware version reportedly had some bass distortion, and the fix is a firmware update through the Soundcore app, worth doing as soon as you unbox it.
What the ULT Field 3 has in its favor:
- A longer 24 hour battery life, against the Boom 3i’s 16 hours.
- True stereo output and Party Connect for linking up to 100 speakers, both absent on the Boom 3i.
- LDAC codec support, versus the Boom 3i’s AAC and SBC only.
What the Boom 3i adds: a higher IP68 rating against the ULT Field 3’s IP67, and 50W of output power versus 27W, in a notably smaller and lighter body.
Buy the Boom 3i for the better overall sound and value, and update its firmware right away to avoid the early bass distortion issue.
Buy the ULT Field 3 only if longer battery life, true stereo, or multi-speaker Party Connect matter more to you than the Boom 3i’s more balanced sound.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Field 3 | Soundcore Boom 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $208.00 | $118.99 |
| Ranked | #71 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) | 1.7 lbs (783 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 27W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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