Why the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker might be your new favorite outdoor accessory.

Ultimate Ears has provided professional quality sound to their customers for over a decade, providing most of the world’s leading musicians with exceptional audio equipment. With a line of successful Bluetooth speakers available to the public, their Wonderboom release promises to be the ultimate outdoor accessory, balancing price, sound quality, portability, and most of all, durability. The squat design belies the powerful speakers hidden inside its waterproof shell, allowing this little speaker to push out some of the best overall sound quality you can get. With the ability to pair up two Wonderbooms for an augmented experience. Boasting the same high-quality bass output found in previous UE Bluetooth speakers, the Wonderboom stands out among another mini, compact designs for its strong, robust sound and waterproof quality at a price that anyone can embrace for their outdoor entertainment needs.

The Wonderboom has a great variety of features and benefits that are sure to entice even the most demanding of owners. Let’s dive in and break down exactly what the UE Wonderboom has to offer you.

Contents

DESIGN & BUILD | Compact, Cute, Connected

Bass tends to be a problem for mini Bluetooth speakers, but the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is able to deliver surprising punch for the price. The compact size makes it a great choice for outdoor use, and the integrated loop is easily clipped onto a backpack or similar with a simple carabiner you might have lying around. There’s no microphone or aux-in, likely part of the waterproofing technology, so don’t expect to be able to use the Wonderboom as a speakerphone. The UE button on the top allows you to control the tracks while your phone or transmitting device is safe and sound up to 100 feet away (108 feet, to be precise, provided you have a line of sight). As mentioned before, you can pair up two Wonderbooms to create a fuller sound, and though they do not act as stereo speakers, they will allow you to fill a space with a comfortable volume. The battery life is rated for ten full hours at moderate volume levels, more than enough for a pool day, a backyard evening out with friends, a fun canoe trip, or mountain hike.

“…your phone or transmitting device is safe and sound up to 100 feet away…”

The Wonderboom’s driver size sits pretty at 40mm, larger than most of the other speakers in UE line, allowing for well balanced, punchy bass. The midrange can get a little muddy at times, but the overall quality is higher than many similar mini Bluetooth speakers. Putting out the 360-degree sound with balanced bass via dual 40mm drivers is no small feat, making the Wonderboom even more impressive, besides its waterproof design. If you’re looking for a solid Bluetooth speaker that will survive poolside, beachside, or riverside accidents, or even hold its own against the humidity and wetness in the shower, the Wonderboom should be at the top of your list.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker front

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker front

SAFETY & DURABILITY | Tough as Nails

At 102mm tall and 93.5mm wide (slightly shorter and wider than a can of soda), the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker might not be the perfect size for a travel accessory, but its IPX-7 water resistance rating will ensure that it survives whatever you have planned. It can remain submerged for up to half an hour in up to a meter of water, or, if it gets dirty, can be washed out without worry. It does float, so if you accidentally drop it in the pool or river, you can retrieve it easily. Though the Wonderboom isn’t made to play while floating, it’ll survive a dip with no problem. This also means you don’t have to worry about getting shocked or injured. Just don’t plug it in to charge while it is still wet, and you are good to go!

“It does float, so if you accidentally drop it in the pool or river, you can retrieve it easily.”

The speaker itself is rated for impacts up to five feet, making this little speaker pretty close to indestructible and perfect for all your outdoor needs. With an overall IP67 rating, your Bluetooth speaker is not only waterproof but also dustproof. It feels solid, and with just the right amount of heft, the Wonderboom will still float if it meets up with a body of water. Whether you’re just going to the backyard or heading down whitewater rapids with your friends, the UE Wonderboom will stick with you no matter what.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in water

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in water

PERFORMANCE | Simple and Clean

Ease of Use

Pairing the UE Wonderboom with your phone or any other device is as simple as pressing and holding the top button. This simplicity is characteristic of many (if not all) of the UE Bluetooth speaker line, so it makes sense that the Wonderboom takes advantage. Tap to pause, tap again to resume, double-tap to skip the track. The volume control buttons are big, bold, and engage with a gentle push. The only way this could be easier is if it read your mind. You shouldn’t have to worry about cables and cords, and UE knows that. You shouldn’t have to worry about your speaker if you’re on a hike or relaxing by the pool, listening to the latest bestseller audiobook. Your focus should be on friends, family, and the awesome burgers coming off the grill, not whether or not the tunes are loud enough to hear. Connect two transmitting devices (two phones, a phone and a computer, two MP3 players, etc.) and trade off who gets to control the music.

Best Features

Ultimately, the shining glory of the UE Wonderboom is just how much pure music the little form factor is able to pump out. As mentioned before, the midrange can be a little muddy, but when it comes to overall performance coming out of such a small speaker, there are very few mini Bluetooth speakers that can boast the same quality of bass while hanging at the same price point. Being able to get that quality unidirectionally is unique to the Wonderboom.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker top

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker top

LONGEVITY & PRICE | Keeps on Ticking

The basic specs state that the battery will last for ten hours at a moderate volume levels, though the speaker does take some time to gain a full charge. As far as how long the speaker itself will last, Ultimate Ears’ construction quality is exceptional. Their earlier incarnations on the Bluetooth speaker line have lasted years for years, according to reviewers and personal experience, both.

Be sure to check the current Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – Amazon price here.

At an MSRP of $99.99, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom is the best bang for your buck when it comes to a mini Bluetooth speaker with excellently balanced bass and waterproof, dustproof construction.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker side

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Super Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker side

Pros

Cons

  • Battery levels are told through a series of tones
  • No 3.5mm aux-in input
  • Occasionally muddy midrange

THE BOTTOM LINE | Your Next Favorite

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom looks great, has a simple control and connect scheme, pumps out great volume with well-balanced bass, all while being waterproof with an IPX7 endorsement, sitting pretty with an MSRP of $99.99 that frequently drops lower thanks to sales and promotions. Coming in six different colors, you’ll wow your friends and family with just how good this little speaker manages to sound despite its size. Go ahead, knock it into the pool. Dive off that cliff into a secluded lake. Dunk your friends’ inner tube. Dance in the rain. It’ll survive. Still not sold on the idea? Check out our other Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers right here!