Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ranks #107, rated 3.0/5, at $191.99, $107.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is the lighter pick. A tough waterproof speaker that floats and shrugs off drops, with a long 20 hour battery for beach and pool days. At 2 lbs (925 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It links with other speakers (PartyUp up to 50 speakers), which the Sonos Play cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The tradeoff: Not stereo, barely any bass.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding option. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. Watch for: 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 saving $107.01 with the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough waterproof speaker that floats and shrugs off drops, with a long 20 hour battery for beach and pool days.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $191.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #107 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs (925 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 8.9” x 3.4” (87 x 225 x 87 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (UE | BOOM app) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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