Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #93 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $119.99. The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 ranks #143, rated 2.0/5, at $69.99, $50 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 144 medium speakers; for better sound, the Earfun Uboom L ranks #1 at $49.79.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 does well: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. The tradeoff: Not much improvement over the old ones.
The case for the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2: Tank-like build quality - reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. Watch for: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $50 you would save on the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 does not close the gap.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 is rated for 30 hours, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 only 15 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #93 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #143 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (mounting clip) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 10W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Ultimate Ears Boom 4 compares with other leading options:
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $119.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 (rated 2.9/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2: $69.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3, rated 2/5.
Pros: Tank-like build quality - reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. IP67 rated; doubles as a power bank. Universal mounting clip for a bike, kayak, or backpack. Built-in speakerphone with voice-confirmed caller ID.
Cons: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally. Gets distorted with a lot of bass. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the Lifejacket 3. Only available used now.
Full Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (mounting clip) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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