Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 ranks #112, rated 2.9/5, at $114.99, $184.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the lighter option. A tough waterproof speaker that floats, with USB-C charging, app EQ and pairing with other UE speakers. At 1.4 lbs (620 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The catch: Not much improvement over the old ones.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 lacks. The catch: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the Sonos Play. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $184.01 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 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #112 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 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 | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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