Short answer: the Soundcore 2. It ranks #106 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $29.99; the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #114, rated 2.9/5, and costs $134.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Soundcore 2 is the longer-running, lighter choice. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. At 0.7 lbs (318 g) it weighs much less than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 at 1.3 lbs (608 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 lacks.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 does well: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Soundcore 2 lacks. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the Soundcore 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore 2 | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $134.99 |
| Ranked | #106 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #114 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (318 g) | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm fullrange | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 12W | - |
| App | No | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 91Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Soundcore 2 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore 2 vs EarFun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore 2 vs Minirig 4
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
Soundcore 2: $29.99 Amazon $29.99 eBay
Newer model: the Soundcore 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Jan 2021. It adds app control and adjustable EQ, but drops the aux input. See every Soundcore 2 and 3 generation.
Pros: Soundcore 2 uses 2x 38mm fullrange. Its 318 g, claimed 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX7 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 70Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full Soundcore 2 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 12W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (318 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $134.99 Amazon $134.99 eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5, released Jun 2024. See every Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Boom and Megaboom generation.
Pros: Rich and warm bass without muddying mix, crisp highs, excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 rated and floats, rugged fabric shell, can pair up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. Measured bass extension of 91Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. 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 2021. Lots of mentions of failing batteries on amazon. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
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- See all 99 comparisons