Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #113, rated 2.9/5, at $132.99, $166.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is the lighter option. A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers. At 1.3 lbs (608 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It links with other speakers (PartyUp up to 50 speakers), which the Sonos Play cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. Watch for: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the Sonos Play. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $166.01 with the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $132.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #113 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (608 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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