Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #109 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $64.99; the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 ranks #177, rated 2.0/5, at $62.99. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor. 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 Wonderboom 4 is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A small, tough waterproof speaker with a strap loop and USB-C charging, easy to clip on a bag for outdoor trips. At 0.9 lbs (420 g) it weighs much less than the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 at 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg). It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: Bass isn’t as deep as the top-ranked speakers and is a little thuddy.
The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 is the longer-running pick. A nearly indestructible waterproof speaker that doubles as a power bank, with a clip for bikes, kayaks or backpacks. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 14 for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 lacks. The catch: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $2 you would save on the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.99 | $62.99 |
| Ranked | #109 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #177 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (mounting clip) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 10W |
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