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 Skullcandy Terrain XL ranks #168, rated 2.1/5, at $79.99, $35 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 179 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the EarFun Uboom L instead, ranked #2 at $49.79.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the better-sounding pick. A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Skullcandy Terrain XL lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Skullcandy Terrain XL. The catch: Not much improvement over the old ones.
What the Skullcandy Terrain XL does well: A very loud, long running Terrain speaker, waterproof with a wrist wrap and a built in microphone. The catch: Shares the Terrain line’s tuning: no bass, very rolled off treble, and distortion in the treble.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $35 saving on the Skullcandy Terrain XL is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | Skullcandy Terrain XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #113 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #168 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 1.4 lbs (635 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) | 7.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” (190.5 x 88.9 x 88.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | 2x 48mm drivers + passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | 95dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (wrist strap) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 2 x 20W |
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