Key Takeaways
- Not having USB-C is a major drawback for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3.
- Despite the use of microUSB, the Wonderboom 3 delivers exceptional sound and versatility, making it a top pick for outdoor adventures.
- The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 offers long battery life, quick pairing, and 360-degree audio, but its price may not justify buying over the newer model.
Ultimate Ears is well-known when it comes to making high-quality Bluetooth speakers, and the Wonderboom 3 is no exception. I was actually blown away by the big sound of this little speaker. In my office, I could comfortably run it on maybe 10-15% volume and enjoy crisp, clear music with ease. However, the lack of USB-C is a pretty big drawback, especially for the full retail price of $100. Should you still buy the Wonderboom 3 when the Wonderboom 4 is out? It depends.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
$80 $100 Save $20
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 practically welcomes water with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and the ability to float. With 360-degree sound and the ability to pair two for true stereo, this is as versatile as it is tough.
- Ultra compact
- Loud, crisp sound
- Long battery life
- IP67 waterproof
- MicroUSB is outdated
- Costs more than similar Bluetooth speakers
Pricing and Availability
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 Bluetooth speaker originally retailed for $99.99, and still goes for as much at Amazon. However, over the past 12 months, it’s dropped to between $60-$65 quite a few times at Amazon.
Where’s the USB-C?
Yes, I get it. The Wonderboom 3 is a last-generation speaker. But USB-C has been out for a decade this year. There’s no reason a speaker from the 2020s shouldn’t have USB-C at this point.
The Wonderboom 3 still utilizes microUSB, which has been around for many, many more years than USB-C. It’s not reversible, it’s not universal, and it’s just not fun to use. I was actually a little annoyed to find it, but that’s because it’s my personal mission to rid myself of all microUSB devices and replace everything with USB-C.
The latest version of this speaker, the Wonderboom 4, does support the USB-C connection protocol. It’s nice that Ultimate Ears finally listened and updated the speaker with the industry-standard cable, but the fact that the Wonderboom 3 still uses microUSB is a pretty big ding in the “should you buy this” category.
Though Small, This Bluetooth Speaker Sure Sounds Mighty
While the Wonderboom 3 might have lost some points for microUSB, the sound alone makes up for the downfall if you can get this speaker for the right price. I absolutely love how the Wonderboom 3 sounds. In fact, out of all the Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested, this has to be one of the best-sounding ones I’ve ever used, especially for the size.
This compact speaker is one that could easily be strapped to a backpack, purse, or even belt loop and kinda get forgotten about. It’s lightweight, completely waterproof, and not bulky at all. Yet, it produces essentially room-filling sound for its tiny self. When it was just me in a quiet environment listening to music, I was typically at 10-15% volume, and it was comfortable. Compare that to my Razer Nommo Chroma desktop speakers I use on my Windows desktop, which I keep set at 50% most of the time, the Wonderboom 3 blew them away.
Add to that the fact that you can pair it with a second Wonderboom 3 for stereo audio, and you’ll be able to enjoy even bigger sound from these tiny speakers, making them the perfect addition to any outdoor setup, rain or shine.
Enjoy Music All Day on a Single Charge
The Wonderboom 3 is said to last about 14 hours per charge, and I’d say that’s somewhat on par. It really depends on how hard you’re driving the speakers, the ambient environment, and a few other factors. But you should have no problem going all day with the Wonderboom 3 on a single charge, which is really all you could ask for from a compact speaker like this.
Pairing Is Quick and Painless Just Like It Should Be
Pairing the speaker to my iPhone 15 Pro took me under a minute to do, which is what I’d expect from a modern speaker. The pairing button is simple and easy to use, and those with Android devices will even benefit from Fast Pair.
Should You Still Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3?
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a great speaker, don’t get me wrong. It sounds fantastic, has great battery life, and is quite rugged with an IP67 waterproof rating. However, where it falls short is two-fold. Firstly, it still uses microUSB. This might be a small thing for you, but it’s something that really should be standard. However, the biggest issue is with price.
Right now, the Wonderboom 3 costs $100 at Amazon. This is its launch price, and it really isn’t a good deal, considering the latest Wonderboom 4 can be bought for $20 less. However, looking at historical pricing for the Wonderboom 3, it frequently falls to sub-$70, sometimes as low as $60. With the holidays approaching, it wouldn’t be unheard of for it to be that low or maybe even lower.
Really, at full price, I can’t recommend getting the Wonderboom 3 over the Wonderboom 4. However, if you can find a sale (or even a used one), then the Wonderboom 3 is a fantastic speaker. The sound is really where it shines, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed at all when it comes to the speaker, so long as you get it for a decent price.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
$80 $100 Save $20
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 practically welcomes water with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and the ability to float. With 360-degree sound and the ability to pair two for true stereo, this is as versatile as it is tough.
