Short answer: the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks #79 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $26; the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 ranks #85 and costs $79.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Tribit Xsound Surf: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. About 20% louder than the XSound Go at the same volume. Set against that: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks.
On the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 side: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. 14 hour battery - longer than the Wonderboom 2. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass. Boosted 93hz upper bass. Cuts bass heavily at high volume.
Buy the Tribit Xsound Surf. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Xsound Surf | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #79 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 12W RMS | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) | No |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| App | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 76Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 166ms |
| Max Volume | - | 87dB |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Xsound Go vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 vs Earfun Uboom L
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
The Two Speakers In Full
Tribit Xsound Surf: $26
Pros: Rugged rubberized frame with a metal grille. About 20% louder than the XSound Go at the same volume. IPX7 rated, USB-C charging, and pairs with a second Surf for stereo.
Cons: Bass doesn’t go as deep as others, strange midrange peaks
Full Tribit Xsound Surf review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Likely Yes (based on Tribit pattern) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7" x 2.2" x 2.1" (178 x 57 x 54 mm) |
| Drivers | 40W: 2x drivers with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 12W RMS |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1 lbs / 440 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit XSound Surf vs. XSound Go (Upgraded Model) Bluetooth Speaker Sound Comparison.
- Aphid Tech: Tribit XSound Surf vs Soundcore 2 - With Sound Comparison!
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Zealot S61 🦨 Bluetooth Speaker Review & Sound Comparison to Tribit XSound Surf. Another Zealot dud❓
- Reddit Search for Tribit Xsound Surf Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Soundcore 2
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs LG Xboom Grab
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs JBL Grip
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Xsound Surf vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- See all 11 comparisons
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: $79.99 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. 14 hour battery - longer than the Wonderboom 2.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. Boosted 93hz upper bass. Cuts bass heavily at high volume. 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 2022. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 76Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: The biggest upgrade since time began! 💪
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Flip 6 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 (Indoor Mode)⚔️ Battle of the Handheld Bluetooth Speakers.
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Flow has deeper bass than the Bose Flex but………..
- Danny Pops: Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker? Wonderboom 3 VS Sony XB-13
- Reddit Search for Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 vs Soundcore 2
- See all 12 comparisons