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 XG5 ranks #150, rated 2.4/5, at $99, $15.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 179 medium speakers; for better sound, the EarFun Uboom L ranks #2 at $49.79.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the better-sounding option. A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. Watch for: Not much improvement over the old ones.
What the LG Xboom XG5 does well: A waterproof speaker with a long tested battery, fast USB-C charging, app EQ, lights and an aux input. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. Watch for: Peaky midrange, rolled off treble.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $15.99 saving on the LG Xboom XG5 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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 4 | LG Xboom XG5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #113 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #150 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (LG XBOOM app) |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 1.5 lbs (680 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) | 8.7” x 3.3” x 3.1” (222 x 83 x 80 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | 1x 42x80mm track-type woofer + 1x passive radiator |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 10 speakers) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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