Short answer: the Sony XB23. It ranks #64 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $100; the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 ranks #132 and costs $200, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Sony XB23 offers: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Watch for: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max
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 XB23. 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.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Battery life favors the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: rated for 20 hours against 12 hours for the Sony XB23.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Sony XB23, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB23 | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $200 |
| Ranked | #64 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #132 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 91dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 580 g | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) | 3.4" x 3.4" x 8.9" (87 x 87 x 225 mm) |
| Output Power | 8W RMS | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) | Yes (via app) |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50x50mm full-range + 2x 55x86mm passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Stereo | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
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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 XB23: $100 eBay
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life.
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 8W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 580 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus More from alanrossreviews →
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 4 vs Sony ULT Field 1 😧 $200 vs $128 Cylinder Bluetooth Speaker Matchup More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
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- Reddit Search for Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Review
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