The original Megaboom was arguably Ultimate Ears’ sweet spot speaker. Small enough to to be portable, but big and powerful enough to make an impression. 360-degree audio with surprising bass and an energetic profile. 20 hour battery life, durable and colorful fabric covering, and waterproof to boot. This was a speaker that could provide pumping music for parties indoors and out.
UE doesn’t mess too much with the formula with the new Megaboom 3, but the end result is a portable wireless speaker that’s even better than the original.
Changes, Mostly Subtle, But They Add Up
First, to avoid confusion I want to make the point that there was no Megaboom 2. The Megaboom 3 skipped a generation.
A few of the features of the original Megaboom have disappeared this time around but I doubt they’ll be missed. For example, there’s no longer a 3.5mm AUX input and speakerphone capability is gone.
There are a few visual changes as well. While the same height, the diameter of the new speaker is slightly larger and it gains several ounces in weight. Compared to the original Megaboom, the top edge is more angular and the rubberized front panel is gone. The prominent volume buttons on the front remain, but they’re even bigger. The Micro USB charge port moves from the bottom to the back (no more having to charge upside down) and the bottom tripod mount is replaced by a UE Power Up port. On top, the center of the panel is now dominated by a new “Magic” button, while the D-Ring is gone — replaced by a fabric loop.
The result of the changes are an even better speaker.
Removing the thick rubberized strip from the front of the speaker (it’s actually moved around back and considerably thinner) improves the Megaboom 3’s 360-degree audio performance, especially if you are sitting directly in front of it.
The Magic button offers on-speaker control of your music, including streaming music. And with a long press of the Magic Button, Apple Music and Deezer Premium users can launch playlists. The Power Up port supports use of an optional ($39.99) Power Up base so the speaker is always fully charged, with no need to fumble with cables.
Side by side, I couldn’t really distinguish the audio performance of the Megaboom 3 compared to the original Megaboom (other than the improved dispersion), and that’s a good thing. Both delivered energetic music playback, with plenty of bass on tap, the volume to fill a good-sized room and with a greater sense of depth than most small speakers can manage. There are few speakers of this size that sound this good.
I discovered the Bluetooth range has improved with the Megaboom 3 (now 150 feet). I was puttering around in the back yard and realized the background music I could hear was the Megaboom 3 still playing in my office, despite my iPhone being in my pocket. Battery life remains excellent at 20 hours. Not only does the Megaboom 3 retain the ability survive a short dunk in three feet of water, it will now float as well.
PartyUp
With the Megaboom and new Megaboom 3 in hand, I was able to try out UE’s PartyUp feature. Using the UE BOOM app, you can pair two compatible speakers to either double the sound, or play in stereo. I used the Megaboom and Megaboom 3 as a stereo pair and the result was impressive. This setup could replace a bookshelf audio system. If you want to get extreme, you can keep adding compatible UE speakers using PartyUp (no longer in stereo sound at this point), up to 150 speakers. Why or how you would get 150 UE speakers in one place at one time is beyond me, but I’m sure the results would be something…
And The Price … Drops?
The Megaboom 3 keeps the awesome sound, long battery life and ruggedness of the original Megaboom, then adds a few new features in the mix. So there’s a bit of a price hike, right? Actually, UE went in the opposite direction. When I reviewed the original Megaboom in 2017, it was priced at $299. The Megaboom 3 is going for $199 — at at time of writing several colors (including the Lagoon Blue of my review unit) are reduced to $179.
UE MEgaboom 3 Key Specs
- 2 x 2-inch full range drivers, dual 2.2-inch x 3.4-inch passive radiators, 360-degree sound
- Battery rated at up to 20 hours
- Wireless connection of two supported UE speakers (stereo sound or doubled) with option to connect up to 150 supported speakers
- Bluetooth, NFC-enabled, A2DP audio profile
- IP67 water resistance (waterproof up to 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes), floats
- Includes USB charger and microUSB cable
- 8.9-inches high, 3.5-inches in diameter, weighs 2.03 pounds
- Integrated Power Up port and carry loop
- UE BOOM app for iOS and Android
- 2-year limited warranty
- MSRP $199
Should You Buy It?
The UE Megaboom 3 isn’t a smart speaker. If you want Alexa to get involved without using your smartphone, UE has that covered with the Megablast (reviewed here). But if you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds great, looks great, is virtually indestructible and offers excellent battery life, the UE Megaboom 3 is tough to beat — especially at its new, lower price.
