Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #113 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $114.99; the LG Xboom Go PL5 ranks #149, rated 2.4/5, and costs $289, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 179 medium speakers, and the EarFun Uboom L, ranked #2 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the better-sounding, tougher option. A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the LG Xboom Go PL5. The tradeoff: Not much improvement over the old ones.
The case for the LG Xboom Go PL5: A water resistant speaker with music synced LED lights, USB-C charging and Party Link for many speakers. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. The catch: Barely any bass.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Go PL5 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | LG Xboom Go PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $289.00 |
| Ranked | #113 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #149 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 1.4 lbs (640 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) | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes (via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 71Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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