Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #88 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $84.99; the Soundcore Motion X500 ranks #24 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $99.99.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3: rich, warm bass without muddying the mix, crisp highs, a strong 15-hour battery, stable Bluetooth, IP67 rated (and it floats), a rugged fabric shell, and PartyUp syncing for up to 150 speakers. The catch: not stereo, recessed treble, a still-present micro-USB port that felt dated even at launch, and enough reports of battery failures that longevity is a real concern.
What the Soundcore Motion X500 gets right: 40W stereo from a 3-driver layout (two tweeters plus a woofer), IPX7 rated, compact, fine build quality for the price, a Spatial Dynamic mode, and battery life that gets close to its 12-hour claim. Set against that: a little bright on top (a custom EQ helps) with a peak at 250Hz and a dip at 1kHz.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 at $84.99 if you want a medium speaker. Buy the Soundcore Motion X500 at $99.99 if you want a large speaker instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | Soundcore Motion X500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $84.99 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #88 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 91Hz | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 608 g | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" (184 x 73 mm) | 8.7" x 8" x 3.2" (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" active drivers + 2x 2" x 4" passive radiators | 2x 58mm (2.3") forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7") upward-firing driver |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Max Volume | 87dB | 104dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| App | - | Yes |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 40W |
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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Soundcore Motion X500: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). IPX7 weatherproof rating. Compact and very portable. Fine build quality at this price. Spatial Dynamic mode provides immersive sound. Gets close to 12 hour battery claim.
Cons: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit. Peaks at 250hz and dip at 1khz
Full Soundcore Motion X500 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 8" x 3.2" (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3") forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7") upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons