Review · Tech & gadgets
Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 review
A 360-degree cylinder speaker that floats, with an IP67 rating, 15 hours of battery and PartyUp pairing with over 150 speakers.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 7, 2026
- Performance (40%)
- 8.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.7
- Value (35%)
- 8.6
The BOOM 4 is built for water. Ultimate Ears rates it IP67 and says it is waterproof, floatable and drop-proof, so it can bob in a pool or survive a fall off a dock. Sound is 360 degrees, which suits a picnic blanket where people sit all around the speaker. Battery life is up to 15 hours, with UE noting that high volume or bass boost drains it faster. The PartyUp feature in the UE BOOM app links more than 150 speakers, and it works with BOOM, MEGABOOM, EVERBOOM, EPICBOOM and HYPERBOOM models, including older BOOM generations, which is handy if friends already own one. The Magic Button plays, pauses and skips, and can launch playlists on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music. The US store showed $114.99 against a $149.99 regular price when we checked. Battery life is shorter than most rivals here, and the product page does not mention calls.
Who it is for
Beach, lake and pool users who want a speaker that floats and links with friends' UE speakers.
Price
$114.99 on sale at Ultimate Ears when checked, regular price $149.99.
$114.99 $149.99 $35.00 off
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.
Key features
- 360-degree sound with Ultimate Ears audio processing
- IP67 rated, waterproof, floatable and drop-proof
- Up to 15 hours of battery life
- PartyUp pairing with over 150 compatible UE speakers
- Magic Button for play, pause, skip and one-touch playlists
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Groups with BOOM, MEGABOOM, EVERBOOM, EPICBOOM and HYPERBOOM models
- Strength: Plastic parts include at least 52% certified recycled plastic
- Strength: Free returns within 30 days at the UE store
- Weakness: 15 hours is the second shortest battery among the verified picks
- Weakness: Good value mainly at the sale price
- Weakness: The product page does not list a microphone or Bluetooth version
Key facts
- Battery: Up to 15 hours
- Water and dust: IP67, floats
- Sound: 360-degree
- Multi-speaker: PartyUp, 150+ speakers
- Recycled plastic: At least 52% of plastic parts
Where it ranks
Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 is No. 7 in our Best Bluetooth Speakers verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit ultimateears.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@hearsmart.org