Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #46 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $49.99; the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 ranks #113, rated 2.9/5, and costs $132.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor is the better-sounding option. An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. Watch for: Bass reach is limited for the cabinet size, with a rated lower limit of 60Hz, and the boosted bass gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
What the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 does well: A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, with a fabric shell, a stable Bluetooth connection and PartyUp linking for many speakers.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | Ultimate Ears Boom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $132.99 |
| Ranked | #46 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #113 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Ultimate Ears BOOM & MEGABOOM app) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (597 g) | 1.3 lbs (608 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) | 7.2” x 2.9” (184 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” active drivers + 2x 2” x 4” passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 30W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 91Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 87dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Xiaomi Sound Outdoor compares with other leading options: