Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It ranks #19 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $399. The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 ranks #112, rated 2.9/5, at $114.99, $284.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 does well: A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. The tradeoff: Not much improvement over the old ones.
The B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A premium waterproof puck speaker with good sound, a long battery, and a battery you can swap, built to last. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. The catch: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $284.01 saving on the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with good sound, a long battery, and a battery you can swap, built to last.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #112 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) | 5.2” x 1.8” x 5.2” (133 x 46 x 133 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 60W |
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