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Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: Two-minute review
Ultimate Ears already has already put out some of the best Bluetooth speakers around, and while I don’t think it’s quite as easy to recommend for the masses as the brilliant UE Wonderboom 4, the UE Megaboom 4 still has its place as a great option for anyone who wants a fairly premium speaker that completely eradicates any feelings of battery anxiety, and can really bring the bass and volume necessary to give any party a jolt.
After putting the speaker through its paces, it’s clear now that the Megaboom 4 feels most at home with pop and dance tracks, so if those feature regularly in your go-to playlists then you’ll enjoy the soundscape on offer. Busier rock/alternative tracks do get a bit muddled in the mix so for fans of Linkin Park, Rise Against and the like, you may want to look elsewhere.
What can’t be faulted is the signature UE design that not only looks great with its oversized volume buttons, it’s also functional, giving way to a rugged IP67 rating, ensuring that the speaker is more than ready to withstand an accidental dip (or full submersion) in water. The move to USB-C, while a minor tweak on the UE Megaboom 3, is still a welcome change for the sake of convenience.
The UE app also lets you configure the EQ settings to offer up even more of a spotlight to the vocals or the bassline, depending on what you prefer, and the PartyUp mode lets you pair other UE speakers to keep the playlist going in every room of a house. What really sets it apart in this price range however is a 20-hour battery life that absolutely decimates the 10-hour stint of the similarly priced Sonos Roam 2. While you can certainly get better sound by paying a bit more for the Bang & Olufsen A1 Gen 3, I think the Megaboom 4 represents one of the best options for folks who want a long-lasting speaker that doesn’t go beyond the $200/£200 mark.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Price and release date
- Released June 2024
- Officially priced at $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$349.95
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 came to market back in June 2024 alongside a plethora of UE speakers, and at the time of writing it’ll set you back $199.99/£169.99 At that price, the Megaboom 4 is easily one of the more expensive Bluetooth speakers you can buy, but it still sits in the mid-range sector of UE’s own devices, eclipsed by the UE Everboom and the UE Epicboom.
There are four colourways available including Active Black, Cobalt Blue, Raspberry Red and Enchanting Lilac, all of which are set with the same RRP. At around the $200/£200 mark, the Megaboom 4’s closest competition can be found in the Sonos Roam 2 and the JBL Charge 5, although the latter tends to be regularly discounted. There’s also the cheaper and similar in style UE Boom 4 which is priced at £129.99/$149.99.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Specs
|
Weight: |
935g |
|
Dimensions: |
225 x 87 x 87mm |
|
Battery life (quoted): |
20 hours |
|
Connectivity: |
Bluetooth (unspecified) |
|
Drivers: |
2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators |
|
Aux-in: |
No |
|
Charger port: |
USB-C |
|
Microphone: |
No |
|
Waterproof rating: |
IP67 |
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Features
- 20-hour battery life
- USB-C has replaced micro-USB
- Quick playback with the Magic Button
It says a great deal about just how slow Ultimate Ears has been to fully embrace USB-C in its devices that one of the biggest upgrades the Megaboom 4 has over the Megaboom 3 is that it finally does away with having a micro-USB port. Beyond that however, the two speakers are largely the same, so if you’re not too fussed about convenience when it comes to charging then you might want to seek out the Megaboom 3 at a discount. If you’re anything like me however, access to a USB-C port wins out every time.
Even though the upgrades are fairly minimal, the UE Wonderboom 4 is far from being featureless. One of its best concepts (and something I wish every Bluetooth speaker had) is a ‘Magic Button’ that gets you straight into a playlist with one push. Without the marketing jargon attached, this button is the same play/pause input that you tend to see on the top of most Ultimate Ears speakers but if you hold it down (even when the Megaboom 4 is switched off), after a few seconds one of four preselected playlists will begin.
To save from any wasted time over deciding what to play first, this ‘one touch’ system is an ingenious way of getting the party started. Bear in mind however that you need either a Spotify of Amazon Music account to use this feature, so you’ll be out of luck if you’re an Apple Music fan. In addition to having your favourite playlists/albums ready to go, the Ultimate Ears app also lets you tweak the soundscape with equaliser controls.
There are five preset EQs available within the app, although the sound does tend to be a bit more generally pleasing to the ear if you opt for the standard ‘Signature’ mode. If you do have a preference for bass or treble however then there is a custom option available that lets you tweak the levels as you see fit, and you save those changes so that they’re ready to go in a few taps.
Even though the Megaboom 4 can reach some pretty high volumes, Ultimate Ears’ PartyUp mode lets you bring additional UE speakers into the mix to help cover a larger area. Not all of UE’s existing products work with this however, so you’ll need to check which devices are compatible ahead of time if you do fancy making use of it, but it’s still a great feature to have. It never gets old when you’re moving from one room to another and there’s no break whatsoever in the tunes you’re listening to, or as it more often tends to be in my case, an audiobook.
What is sure to raise an eyebrow (or two, if you can’t raise one on its own) from anyone in the market for a new speaker is the fact that the Megaboom 4 can run for up to 20-hours at a time. That’s more than you’ll ever need for a single gathering, but if you’re heading away for a weekend and you’d rather save your battery pack for topping up other devices like your phone, it’s nice to know that the Megaboom 4 can go the distance. With that kind of longevity, the Megaboom 4 towers over the Sonos Roam 2.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Design
- Same signature UE style
- IP67 waterproof and dust-proof
- USB-C port has a dust cover
If there’s one thing that I can’t fault Ultimate Ears speakers for, it’s their design. Even though I have the far more portable JBL Clip 5 in my possession, I’ve preferred bringing UE devices with me to the office or to picnics over the years because of how great they look. The oversized volume buttons are instantly recognisable, and just a lot more interesting to look at than your average speaker.
It’s all much the same with the Megaboom 4, although I will admit that it looks practically identical to its predecessor, so don’t go looking for any visual markers to let you know that this is a newer product. Still, the cylindrical frame isn’t just for show, it’s also functional as it helps to deliver the audio in a 360-degree scope so you won’t have to strain to hear what’s being played.
Similar to its green ambitions that kicked off with the excellent Wonderboom 3, UE has endeavoured to have a sizeable chunk of the Megaboom 4’s plastic segments be constructed from recycled plastics – over 54% in fact. While there’s always more that can be done, it is still great to see Ultimate Ears taking some initiative in an area that feels as if it’s been sidelined somewhat in recent years by other companies. Plus, even with those recycled plastics in tow, the Megaboom 4 is still one durable device.
Courtesy of an official IP67 rating, the Megaboom 4 can absolutely take an accidental dip in the pool without cause for concern, and it’s been drop tested too. Even just to hold the speaker (which weighs in at 935g), there’s a decent heft to it that feels reassuring. As a nice added touch, the USB-C port also has a cover to keep it protected from any debris.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Sound quality
- Works best at higher volumes
- Pop songs sound great here, with plenty of bass
- Rock and similarly busy genres don’t fair too well
So far, I’ve painted a fairly pretty picture of the UE Megaboom 4, and while I do love this speaker, it unfortunately doesn’t quite stick the landing when it comes to sound quality. At the surface level, this is a speaker that feels right at home when listening to pop music.
Playing an all-time classic in Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again, it showcases the perfect mix of the song’s twangy bass, rhythmic cymbals and of course the vocals which never feel drowned out by everything that’s going on. It’s precisely the blend that you’d want for an outdoor gathering as you can sing along to the music without feeling as though the instruments are overpowering.
Moving over to a modern pick that leans more towards being a dance track, Charli XCX’s Apple benefits from the same treatment, except this time it does a better job of showing off the Megaboom 4’s room for a hefty bassline under the right conditions. The kick pedal beat that rolls throughout much of the track packs a hefty punch, and it’s sure to get people off of their seats and moving (it certainly had that effect on me).
It’s with these party friendly tracks that the Megaboom 4 really shines, especially when they’re played at a decent volume that allows the speaker to show off what it can do. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for personal playback when you’re alone and you just want to listen to your go-to favourites.
Embracing my emo roots, as one does when working from home, a run-through of Send the Pain Below by Chevelle shows where the Megaboom 4 trips up. At a lower volume, it just feels as if the song is a bit muffled, which isn’t helped by the fact that the speaker doesn’t quite know what to do with busier rock songs like this. The lead guitar sounds a bit too crunchy and it ends up suffocating the bass during the chorus, so I think you’re better off looking elsewhere if you mostly plan on playing tracks of a similar vibe.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Value
One thing I cannot fault the Megaboom 4 on is its value. Almost in defiance of today’s economic landscape, the Megaboom 4 retails at the same price that the Megaboom 3 went on sale for back in 2018. That’s unheard of in the modern age and it just means that if your current Bluetooth speaker is starting to show its age, you won’t be penalised at the checkout for having held out until now to upgrade.
I will say though that because of how minimal the upgrades are between the Megaboom 4 and the Megaboom 3, if you do own the latter then it’s not worth making the upgrade unless battery life has started to take a real hit (or you’re ready to finally do away with the last micro-USB cable in your collection).
There’s also the issue that UE has undermined its own product to a degree as you can buy the slightly cheaper UE Boom 4 at $149.99£129.99, so long as you don’t mind sacrificing five-hours of battery life and a bit of bass. Still, for all that the Megaboom 4 offers, I’d sooner recommend it above the competition for anyone who just wants a long-lasting, durable speaker with great volume to get them through the weekend.
Should I buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
The Megaboom 4 now supports USB-C and runs for up to 20-hours at a time |
4/5 |
|
Design |
The same classic UE design but with rugged credentials to back it up on the road |
4.5/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Improved bass and depth for pop, but lacking in clarity for rock and busier songs |
3.5/5 |
|
Value |
No price increase over the Megaboom 3, and feature packed for the price |
4.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
UE Megaboom 4 |
UE Wonderboom 4 |
Sonos Roam 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions: |
225 x 87 x 87mm |
104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm |
98 x 98 x 35mm |
|
Weight: |
935g |
420g |
430g |
|
Battery life (quoted): |
20 hours |
14 hours |
10 hours |
|
Connectivity: |
Bluetooth (unspecified) |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
|
Drivers: |
2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators |
2 x 40mm active drivers, 2 x 46.1×65.2mm passive radiators |
A tweeter, a mid-woofer, and two class-h digital amplifiers |
|
Aux-in: |
No |
No |
No |
|
Charger port: |
USB-C |
USB-C |
USB-C |
|
Microphone: |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Waterproof rating: |
IP67 |
IP67 |
IP67 |
How I tested the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Tested for two weeks, both indoors and in a communal garden
- Connected to a variety of Android phones
For the purpose of this review, I used the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 as my main Bluetooth speaker over a period of two weeks, mostly playing songs indoors with occasional moments of testing in an outdoor garden.
I paired the speaker primarily with Android phones, including the OnePlus 12 and the Motorola Edge 60 Pro.
I tested the speaker with a wide range of genres beyond those mentioned in the sound test, including heavy metal (Lamb of God), hyperpop (100 Gecs) and rap (Kendrick Lamar).
Read more about how we test
- First reviewed: July 2025
Read the full article here
