Short answer: the Earfun Uboom 360. It ranks #30 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $42; the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #88 and costs $84.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 impresses with: Rich, warm bass without muddying the mix, crisp highs, an excellent 15-hour battery life, stable Bluetooth, an IP67-rated floating design with a rugged fabric shell, and the ability to pair with up to 150 speakers via PartyUp. It comes up short on: not being stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble, still shipping with micro USB, plenty of reports of failing batteries on Amazon, and not technically being a 360 speaker, only firing front and rear.
The Earfun Uboom 360’s pitch: It sounds similar to the Maxsound Plus, likely sharing the same drivers, and is likely the best 360 speaker around. The compromise: it isn’t stereo, has slightly rolled off treble and not as deep bass as the best in its category, and isn’t technically a 360 speaker, only firing front and rear (outdoor mode is flatter, indoor mode boosts bass).
Buy the Earfun Uboom 360. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Earfun Uboom 360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $84.99 | $42 |
| Ranked | #88 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #30 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C (5V/2A) |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 608 g | 1.3 lbs / 585 g |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) | - |
| Drivers | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators | Dual 63mm woofers + dual tweeters |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Max Volume | 87dB | 100dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| App | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Output Power | - | 24W (2 x 12W) |
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Boom 3: $84.99 Amazon
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
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 →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 608 g |
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Earfun Uboom 360: $42 Amazon
Pros: Similar to the Maxsound Plus in sound, likely uses the same drivers. Likely the best 360 speaker.
Cons: Not stereo. Slightly rolled off treble, not as deep of bass as the best in category. Outdoor mode is more flat, indoor mode boosts bass. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Earfun Uboom 360 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | Dual 63mm woofers + dual tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Output Power | 24W (2 x 12W) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 585 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons