LG XBoom Go XG2T review: two-minute review

The LG XBoom Go XG2T is an ultra-durable mini Bluetooth speaker that’s ideal for taking out on the go. This mini waterproof speaker offers military-grade protection against the elements – pretty hardcore. But how does it sound? Let’s find out…

With a lot of small speakers, audio quality can be middling at best. But the LG XBoom Go XG2T puts out a pretty solid sonic performance. Is it the most talented-sounding speaker on the market? No. But it offers commendable all-round clarity and impressive volume levels, especially with the Sound Boost EQ option enabled.

You may expect a big, bass-heavy sound from the LG XBoom Go XG2T – I mean, it's literally in the name – but you won't actually find booming bass here. Bass is adequately punchy, but it’s not the most controlled or deep sounding. Again, that’s pretty common with these mini speakers, but still, it may be a little underwhelming for those expecting a hard-hitting low-end output. If big bass is what you’re after, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a punchier alternative.

Of course, sound is always number one, but it's not everything. Thankfully, this speaker is extremely strong on the design front. It has a unique build, which includes a lace for attaching the speaker to a bag and four feet on its reverse side so the speaker can play upfiring audio. It’s also passed a series of tests that render it military-grade protected, not to mention an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, which makes it fit for any outdoor space, even the beach or pool.

Another nice inclusion is companion app compatibility, which enables EQ adjustment and Healing Therapy, which lets you listen to calming sounds – don’t worry, there’s a sleep timer included if you start to feel a bit drowsy while listening. One slight hiccup features-wise is battery life. The 10 hours maximum may sound good, but with Sound Boost on – which gives a serious leg-up to the speaker’s power – and volume above 50%, the battery will deplete considerably quicker.

Overall, this is a good small-sized speaker. Sure, you may have to charge it up semi-regularly, and sound quality isn’t top-tier, but you get generally clear audio, incredible durability, and an attractive design. Price-wise, this is great value if you can grab it on sale – but its list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 may be slightly high against some competitors.

So, is the LG XBoom Go XG2T a speaker worth considering? Absolutely – that is if you want a travel-friendly small speaker that can slip into a bag for excursions. The biggest problem with the XG2T has more to do with the quality of its competitors. Options like the JBL Clip 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 are absolutely fantastic small speakers, with awesome audio and equally mighty waterproofing. If you’re all in on the XG2T’s design I’d say it’s worth buying on sale, otherwise, the aforementioned alternatives may just edge it out. More on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: price and release date

• $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89
• Launched in March 2024

The LG XBoom Go XG2T was released back in March 2024 with a fairly moderate list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89. However, if you’re in the US or UK you shouldn’t expect to pay anywhere near as much as that for it now. I’ve already spotted this lil’ fella available for less than $35 / £40.

That price is very much in line with some top-tier small portable speakers, such as the JBL Clip 5, which I’ve seen go on sale for less than $50 / £40 in recent months. Sometimes, this speaker can be found in a 2-pack at retailers such as Costco, which may be an even more cost-efficient option for those seeking louder, more room-filling sound.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: specs

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: features

• Nifty companion app
• Pairing, multi-point and all essential options are here
• Average at best battery life

As is often the case with LG, you get a very solid companion app to assist you in your experience with the XG2T. It’s equipped with all the crucial tools you’d want from a modern Bluetooth speaker, including multi-point for connecting two devices at once and Party Link for connecting multiple speakers at once.

Another inclusion you’d expect to see is EQ settings, which are also here. Unfortunately, I found them to be a bit mixed, quality-wise. I did like the inclusion of a six-band equalizer, which offers a bit more customization than the slightly larger Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, for instance. But other than that things are a bit thin. The only other presets are Standard or Sound Boost. I wish there were a few more presets for particular moods or music genres, as you see with a lot of Sony’s speakers, for example.

But allow me to loop back to Sound Boost. This is a feature you can activate on the speaker itself or via the LG XBoom app. Essentially, it amplifies volume output and provides a bit more of a kick, especially in the low-frequency range. I’ll go into more detail about sound later, but for such a small speaker, the added power is very much a welcome addition.

On top of all the classic inclusions, the XG2T has some fun stuff to play around with. Healing Therapy plays from a set list of calming sounds, such as ‘A Still Summer Night with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea,’ which did entice me, I can’t lie. You can set a sleep timer alongside these, just in case you drift off before an important meeting. Is this gimmicky? Sure, a little bit. Did I like it anyway? Yes, I did.

But let’s finish by tackling one of the key areas for any speaker – battery life. This speaker won’t be able to survive too long, although that’s pretty common for models of this size. LG says you get a maximum of 10 hours of playtime, which is pretty average. But here’s the thing – that’s only if you’re playing at 50% or lower with Sound Boost or EQ settings off. Fine-tune your audio and crank the volume up and you can expect the battery to drain much faster, meaning you’ll definitely want a full charge before taking it out and about.

• Features score: 3.5/5

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: sound quality

• Clear overall audio
• Bass isn’t booming
• Can get impressively loud, but you’ll compromise on quality

With a lot of these small-sized portable speakers, you get pretty disappointing quality in exchange for a highly compact build. Is that the case with the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Not exactly, but you’ll certainly have to make some sacrifices.

First, I thought the overall audio quality was solid, with decent mids audible from the offset. For instance, I tried Nothing Can Come Between Us by Sade and found that vocals were clear in the overall mix at around 50-60% volume and didn’t get distorted or drowned out by other mid-range or low-frequency sounds. If anything, I thought that bass was lacking. There was, thankfully, a part-solution here – Sound Boost mode. This amps up the volume and adds a bit more meat in the low end, which was very much needed. With this mode on, the bass was okay for a small-sized speaker, but still not exactly “booming” as LG has advertised.

I compared the XG2T to the JBL Clip 5 and found the latter offers meatier and clearer bass output. For instance, the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X was replicated with more depth and impact with the Clip 5, even when utilizing Sound Boost mode on the XG2T. What the XG2T did offer, however, was a bit more clarity in the mids – vocals sounded clean and overall output was nicely balanced, especially with the speaker placed on its feet.

However, the vocals sounded a touch harsh when the speaker was hung up and angled toward me, and that wasn’t the only time I felt the audio quality suffered. When I cranked up the volume to the 80%-100% mark, songs got swamped by an almost underwater effect, marked by muddied, tinny audio output. Don’t get me wrong, this mini speaker can certainly get loud for its size, but it won’t sound great at the top of its range.

Having said that, I do want to give the XG2T its flowers. It may not sound the best at top volumes or certain angles, but this is pretty standard for a small-sized speaker. And when I compared it to the Sony SRS-XB100, the XG2T outperformed it by a significant margin. For example, I tuned into Everyday by Jamiroquai on the XG2T and found that strings were well-balanced in the mix and hi-hats sounded sharp and responsive. When I listened to it on the XB-100, bass levels were stronger, but the low end wasn’t too clear, making for a bloated, messy overall sound.

So, you do get fairly nuanced, clear sound from the XG2T compared to some small-sized competitors, but you still can’t expect amazing audio. Bass is pretty underwhelming, even when using Sound Boost and detail is lacking – especially at top volumes.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: design

• Unique, rugged-looking speaker
• ‘Military-grade’ protection against the elements
• Lace can be used to hang or attach it

Something that's sure to instantly grab people’s attention is the XG2T’s unique-looking design. It comes in a diminutive, curved, square-shaped shell, with a lace attached to the side. This lace can be adjusted and attached to anything from a bag to a hook – you could even sling it on a tree branch when out in the woods. A lace isn’t something I’ve seen from a whole lot of speakers before, so LG scores well for originality.

The speaker's outer casing is pretty hardy, after all, LG claims that the XG2T meets US military standards. To back up this claim, the speaker passed seven durability tests against: dust, high temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration, and water immersion. It'll be unsurprising, then, that this speaker holds the IP67 dust and waterproof rating, meaning it's well equipped for any outdoor space, even the sea or a swimming pool. That's a staple design feature of any speaker that wants to make it into our list of the best waterproof speakers.

Another unorthodox design choice is a volume wheel on the side of the speaker, as opposed to buttons or similar. I found this to be pretty cool-looking and responsive too. Notably, there’s a power button and a play/pause button on the front of the speaker. Practicalities aside, I also found the black and red color combination to be very appealing – the relatively low-key color coding suiting the speaker’s ruggedness to a tee.

One small criticism, though. I would have loved it if the speaker could stand upright without my hand supporting it. It can sit on four feet for upfiring sound, but this isn’t always ideal. The option to have forward-firing audio would be the icing on the cake here, but I’m fully satisfied with the design otherwise.

• Design score: 4.5/5

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: value

• Great price when on sale
• Solid sound for the money you pay
• Not worth it at full price, in my view

Is the LG XBoom Go XG2T worth your cash when it’s at full price? Perhaps not. That’s not to say it’s way overpriced, but there are far too many small-sized options with lower price tags out there.

Consider the discounted cost it’s regularly available for and the picture totally changes, though. If you can nab this for less than $40 / £40 / AU$70, I think it's a decent option. Audio is by no means perfect, but for a tiny Bluetooth speaker like this, it’s more than passable. You also get an ultra-durable, attractive design and a nice assortment of features to play around with.

So, again, if you can grab the XG2T on sale – which shouldn’t be a rare occurrence at this stage – then it is a very strong value option.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the LG XBoom Go XG2T?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: also consider

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Predominantly used in music testing space at Future Labs
• Mainly listened with Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to music on the LG XBoom Go XG2T. I tried the speaker in a few environments but mainly used it in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality and assess the accuracy of battery life claims.

When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also used a range of small-sized speakers for comparison, including the Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Bluesound Pulse M: two-minute review

The Bluesound Pulse M is a mid-market multi-room speaker that promises wide, immersive sound. It's compatible with both lossless streaming and hi-res audio over a wired connection, and is clearly aimed at audiophiles who are looking for a compact yet versatile speaker. On top of this, its angled tweeters are billed as providing a broader stereo effect than many single-unit setups are capable of.

The Bluesound Pulse M’s audio is impressively detailed, as you’d expect from a speaker capable of lossless streaming. I was impressed by how Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon managed to sound both warm and crisp, with his voice rising above the mix and that tight, noodly guitarwork cutting right through. And its stereo effect is genuinely impressive – while you won’t hear two distinct channels for left and right per se, there’s still a separation to its sound that feels broader than a single speaker should be able to deliver.

Unfortunately, this is somewhat undermined by how unbalanced the audio can be. Like a lot of speakers in recent years, the Pulse M bets big on bass, which would normally be a pretty safe bet for a fan of sub like myself. However, in the process it neglects other frequencies, with mids in particular suffering compared to many of the best wireless speakers. With its sub and kicks, a slice of warm tech like Burst by Kiasmos should really shine on a bassier speaker, but instead that dusty arpeggiated synth and lush strings came off as slightly foggy here.

It is possible to rectify this using some of the speaker’s sound profiles. Personally, I found Front Row, Bluesound’s enhanced profile, to be a bit of a damp squib – it absolutely has an impact on the sound, giving it a bit more urgency, but that comes at the expense of a compressed feeling overall. Instead, I found using the BluOS app’s settings to boost treble and duck the bass achieved better results – although I did find myself wishing it had proper EQ settings to give me even more direct control over the sound.

When it comes to setting up and controlling the Pulse M, Bluesound’s BluOS app is easy enough to use, although it has some odd issues here and there. When setting up the speaker, multiple steps would fail, only to immediately succeed when I retried. And these glitches extend to its Alexa voice control skill as well. I found I was able to pause, play and skip music, but every time I asked my Echo Dot to select a specific track the Pulse M remained obstinately silent – so if voice control is your thing, you might be better off with one of the best smart speakers instead.

Design is probably the area where the Pulse M shines most. It’s well built, feeling sturdy without being overly heavy or bulky, while its white matte finish feels suitably premium to the touch. A built-in proximity sensor only lights up the buttons when you wave your hand near, which feels appropriately sci-fi. However, I’d personally prefer the touch-sensitive buttons to have some haptic feedback; offering that immediate feedback when pressed would make it much more obvious when the speaker has registered your input.

All in all, the Bluesound Pulse M is a quality mid-range speaker that's able to produce detailed, hi-res audio. Ultimately though, it lacks the nuance I’d expect from a speaker that costs $399 / £399 – powerful bass shouldn’t come at the expense of lush, expressive mids. Coupled with the fact that similarly priced speakers offer more – the JBL Authentics 200 offers fuller, more rounded sound for $349.95 / £299, while the spatial-audio-equipped Sonos Era 300 costs just $449 / £449 / AU$749 – this makes the Pulse M harder to recommend.

Bluesound Pulse M review: specs

Bluesound Pulse M review: price and availability

• Released October 26, 2022
• Costs $399 / £399 / AU$899

Launched on October 26, 2022, the Bluesound Pulse M is available to buy now. It retails for $399 / £399 / around AU$899, which puts it firmly in mid-market territory – it costs a fair way north of the Sonos Era 100 at $249 / £249 / AU$399 but doesn’t quite cost as much as its premium cousin the Sonos Era 300 at $449 / £449 / AU$749.

In return for your spend, you’ll get a compact speaker with 80W of combined amplification, a single woofer and two angled tweeters. There’s not a huge variety in terms of options. It comes in just two colorways – black or white – but that’s pretty common with more premium speakers.

Bluesound Pulse M review: features

• Great range of connectivity options
• Occasional app gremlins
• Limited EQ options

The Bluesound Pulse M rocks a decent number of features for a wireless, multi-room speaker, without necessarily ripping up the rulebook. It offers a combined 80W total amplification power, with 50W going to its upfiring 5.25-inch woofer and 15W to each of its 0.75-inch tweeters. The latter two are offset at 45 degrees from each other to give what Bluesound describes as an ‘immersive’ soundstage. Combined with an inbuilt acoustic reflector, this helps to radiate higher-frequency sounds in a 360-degree pattern, reducing the impression that the sound all emerges from a single point in space.

Getting started with the Pulse M is relatively straightforward. Once you’ve downloaded the BluOS app you just need to connect your mobile device to the speaker’s hotspot so it can piggyback on it to join your local Wi-Fi network. This process is pretty simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely smooth sailing – at multiple points I would find the connection process would time out, only to connect instantly when I retried. This did add a bit of friction to the process, particularly given that the Pulse M seemed to need setting up afresh every time it was unplugged.

Once the BluOS app is connected, it enables you to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth or AirPlay 2, as well as connecting specific apps like Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music directly to the Pulse M. The app also allows you to pair it with other Bluesound speakers to form a multi-room setup, or pair two Pulse Ms with the Pulse Soundbar+ or PowerNode to create an effective surround sound setup for your home cinema.

The BluOS app is also where you’ll find options to tweak the Pulse M’s sound profiles. On top of its default profile, it also offers Front Row, a setting that, according to Bluesound, enhances "richness in the lower frequencies (<60Hz)" and "openness and expansiveness in the higher frequencies (>5kHz)". It also offers access to the Tone Control settings, although these are unfortunately pretty limited: plenty of budget price Bluetooth speakers like the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 offer full nine-band EQ, whereas this speaker only allows you to boost or reduce treble or bass by 6dB either way. The BluOS app also offers ‘Replay-gain’, essentially an auto-gain adjustment that tweaks different tracks or albums to make sure they play back at similar volumes. I can’t say this is a problem I have very often these days, given that many streaming services standardize recordings to be at the same volume, but it’s nice to have I guess.

Naturally, the BluOS app isn’t the only way to control the Pulse M. If you want to control it as part of your smart home network, you can connect it to an Amazon Echo speaker using the BluOS Voice Control skill in the Alexa app. Unfortunately though, the skill seems to have a few holes here and there. Try as I might, I couldn’t get Alexa to select specific songs and artists – it would happily chirp that music was playing through my named speaker and then nothing would start. When I manually selected music though, Alexa was at least able to pause and play, as well as adjust the volume and skip backwards and forwards. So it’s a mixed bag: you’ll still have to reach for your phone a fair amount.

Should you prefer using your own digits to digital controls, the Bluesound Pulse M has a range of touch-sensitive controls on top of the speaker itself. These are invisible most of the time, but wave a hand over them and they’ll light up – you can then tap them to play and pause, skip forwards and backwards, set the volume, and pick one of five audio presets you’ve assigned in the app.

• Features score: 3.5

Bluesound Pulse M review: sound quality

• Over-liberal with its bass
• Front Row audio profile lacks finesse
• Genuinely impressive breadth to its soundstage

When you actually fire up the Bluesound Pulse M, the first thing you’ll likely notice is its bass. In fact, that’s probably the only thing you’ll notice. When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I was immediately impressed with how punchy the kick sounded and how warm the low subby end of the bass sounded – but the mids sounded set quite far back in comparison. I tried switching things up to Rosewood by Bonobo, a track that very much shines on a warmer speaker and, once again, it felt like the bass overshadowed the rest of the mix, which is pretty disappointing.

Comparing it to the Sonos Era 100, it became much easier for me to diagnose the problem. In our original Sonos Era 100 review, we criticised it for its over-emphasis on bass and yet it comes across as far better integrated and more coherent. In contrast, the Pulse M pulls way too many punches when it comes to its mids. Weighing up the two while listening to Young Blood by The Naked & Famous, there’s a real slam and thud to the bass kicks and snares to the Pulse M but, like the weightlifter who overlooks their core to focus on their arms and legs, all this flexing only serves to draw more attention to its soggy middle in comparison to its trimmer rival.

That’s not to say it completely lacks all precision. In sparser mixes, things feel like they have much more room for expression. Listening to the sparser ballad-y composition of Rains again by Solji, I was impressed with how polished and detailed her voice sounds, while the drum beats and piano are granted plenty of room to breathe – when the bass isn’t hogging all the limelight, other elements are given their chance to shine.

Given the default sound is a bit of a mixed bag, you might expect Front Row, BluOS’s inbuilt frequency tweaking, to step in and save the day. In practice, it’s a bit of a blunt tool, akin to using a pocket knife for micro-surgery. Some tracks definitely shine more with it on – originally White Dress by Lana Del Rey sounded a bit demure and lacklustre to me but Front Row boosted the breathy edge to her voice and made that light cymbal work a bit more crisp. Conversely, it brought the beat and vocals in Baby It’s You by London Grammar forward a lot but at the expense of making things sound a bit too compressed.

In my personal experience, you’ll get better results getting your hands dirty and tweaking the Tone Control settings according to your own tastes. Upping the treble by 6dB on London Grammar’s track gave its hats and Hannah Reid’s honeyed vocal that little more immediacy, while dropping the bass just a fraction by 6dB tamed the Pulse M’s worst impulses. Ultimately, this setting felt much more balanced for me and I ended up using it as standard pretty much from there on out.

One place I will commend the Pulse M however is for its soundstage. Thanks to those angled, stereo tweeters, this speaker offers a much wider sound than the narrow point of origin that many single speakers are capable of. Playing Manchild by Eels, there was genuinely an impressive sense of separation between the vocal and the guitar in the left and right channels, especially the further back I was sat in the room. While I’m not convinced I would describe this as true stereo, as Bluesound has, there’s no doubt it feels immersive and broad – although it’s not quite as impressive as the Dolby Atmos a speaker like the Sonos Era 300 offers.

• Sound score: 3.5/5

Bluesound Pulse M review: design

• Gorgeous, refined design
• Solidly built but not bulky
• Controls could offer more feedback

For the most part, I’m a big fan of the Bluesound Pulse M’s design. The brand has nailed the nexus of minimal and premium that’s absolutely appropriate with a speaker at this price point.

Essentially a cylindrical oval shape, it gives off slight Sonos Move 2 vibes, while still being distinct enough to feel like its own beast. It comes in both black or white colorways; for me the latter has the definite edge here, feeling much cleaner and more futuristic. Its plastic body has a pleasing matte finish, while the fabric-covered grille has a curved bottom edge giving the whole thing a nice aesthetic balance. When it comes to the pure look of the device, I – unusually – have nothing negative to say.

Again, in build quality, the Pulse M occupies a Goldilocks zone of both solid without being overly bulky. The absence of a battery helps here, of course: moving it from room to room requires considerably less exertion than something like the Move 2. While it’s close in size to the Sonos Era 300, it's significantly lighter, weighing in at 2.54kg compared to the Era 300’s 4.47kg. While you’re not likely to be repositioning it very often, it’ll definitely be less cumbersome when you do.

One slight niggle centers around the touch-sensitive controls on top of the device. Given they aren’t physical buttons, I’d personally have preferred it if they’d included some haptic, or at least aural, feedback to confirm a successful finger press – I wasn’t always clear when it had actually registered a finger-press on the volume bar, meaning I’d often stab at it several times to be sure. But more of an issue for me is the lack of labelling: minimal buttons sure look cool until you’re trying to work out what half of them do, at which point you start to appreciate why almost all speakers follow certain conventions, like pluses and minus for volume or numbers for presets.

All things considered though, this feels more like splitting gossamer than splitting hairs – the overall style and build of the Bluesound Pulse M is aesthetically pleasing, and creates a decent impact in any room it’s situated in.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Bluesound Pulse M review: value

• Looks and build match its premium price
• Sound can’t compete with similarly priced speakers
• You’ll likely get better value for your spend elsewhere

Weighing up how the Bluesound Pulse M compares in terms of value is a tough undertaking. On the one hand, it looks stunning, works as part of a multi-room setup and can stream true lossless audio. On the other, its bass out-of-the-box is seriously overblown, its app can be periodically frustrating and it’s a bit lacking when it comes to audio optimisation features.

Those kinds of compromises would mostly be fine if the Pulse M was cheaper or the competition wasn’t so good at this price range. But this is not an affordable wireless speaker: at an MSRP of $399 / £399 / around AUS899, it’s reasonable for you to expect more than you’re getting here. For that kind of money, I want a speaker to sound great right out of the box, ideally with algorithms that optimise the sound depending on the surroundings. And the Pulse M just cannot clear that bar, which feels like a missed opportunity.

So while this is a very capable speaker in a lot of ways, it’s still not enough to quite justify the high price tag: there are simply too many speakers out there that will give you better sound for your spend. For example, the JBL Authentics 200 is available for $349.95 / £299 / AU$299 and offers both the full bass and crisp treble of the Bluesound, while providing full, convincing mids. Alternatively, the Sonos Era 300 doesn’t retail for much more, at $449 / £449 / AU$749, and it rocks both full sound as well as that awesome spatial audio effect.

• Value score: 3/5

Should I buy the Bluesound Pulse M?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Bluesound Pulse M review: also consider

Bluesound Pulse M review: how I tested

• Tested for two weeks
• Used in a range of rooms and settings
• Played a wide range of music over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wired connections

I spent many hours testing the Bluesound Pulse M over the course of several weeks. Not only did I try it out in multiple different sized spaces, I also compared it to the Sonos Era 100 and hooked it up to a variety of devices, including my iPhone 16 Pro over AirPlay 2 and the Fiio M11S hi-res music player via analog stereo 3.5mm input.

In terms of music, I used our curated TechRadar testing playlist, as well as a wide array of tracks from my personal library. This allowed me to try out how the speaker handled everything from deep pulsing bass to delicate vocals. I also used a variety of different quality sources, whether that was Spotify’s standard tier, Apple’s lossless tier or Tidal’s hi-res tier.

I’ve been testing audio kit like headphones and speakers for many years now. I’ve also spent decades making music in my free time, which has given me a lot of insight into analyzing the frequencies of music, composition and soundstage.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: two-minute review

If you’re looking for a sleek, stylish portable Bluetooth speaker, you’ll struggle to find a better-looking alternative than the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. This small speaker assumes a compact, curved form with a durable rubber body and attractive metallic-looking grille. But it’s more than just a pretty face.

The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 plates up impressively powerful audio for its size, with commendable levels of detail and surprisingly good instrument separation. As a result, you get a layered, clear listening experience that will keep you tuned into your favorite tracks for hours on end. Sound quality can get a touch harsh and unstable at top volumes, but for the vast majority of the time, it steers well clear of tinniness and distortion.

Audio in the treble is communicated with delicacy and finesse, with mids also sounding as rich as you’d hope to hear from some of the best Bluetooth speakers in this size and weight class. Bass – although not delivering as much impact as a large-sized party speaker – has solid depth and dynamism too. You can, unlike its original gen predecessor, alter EQ settings on the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. Just download the Bose app and switch things up to your liking. However, there is a disappointing lack of presets (four that increase or reduce either bass or treble), so you’ll likely need to manually adjust audio with the app’s three-band equaliser.

But you don’t only get a strong audio performance from the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, you also get excellent build quality and durability. This Bluetooth speaker has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, meaning it can survive being dunked under a meter of water for half an hour. Pretty impressive. On top of that, it has a durable exterior, discreet feet that keep it standing and a customizable shortcut button, which I personally used to activate my voice assistant. Design-wise, this really is the full-package.

And even in the features department, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has a solid amount to work with. Of course, the Bose app opens up a lot of this, including the aforementioned EQ settings and shortcut button customization. But it also enables you to view devices connected via multi-point, change auto-power off time and even name the speaker from a list of random names (mine was Pint Size Party). And like its first generation ancestor, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 harnesses PositionIQ tech, which optimizes audio output depending on the speaker’s orientation.

The re-utilization of PositionIQ is welcome, but it does hammer home something undeniable about the SoundLink Flex Gen 2. It’s very similar to the original Bose SoundLink Flex. Not only does it look almost identical, but it also has a like-for-like sound profile. Perhaps most frustratingly, the newer variant has the same battery life – just 12 hours – which is a little underwhelming when you consider recently-released rivals, like the Beats Pill, offer a much longer playtime.

Having said that, the addition of EQ options and a more up-to-date Bluetooth version is a noticeable improvement. Is it worth upgrading for owners of the original SoundLink Flex? Perhaps not. But if you want a new Bluetooth speaker, this certainly stands on its own four feet as a very strong option. So, if you’re new to the SoundLink Flex line and want a great-sounding portable speaker for all environments, I’d recommend this one. Otherwise, you may be better served by an alternative in our guide to the best waterproof speakers.

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: price and release date

• $149 / £149.95 / AU$249.95
• Already appeared on sale
• Launched in September 2024

The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is a mid-priced option in the portable Bluetooth speaker market. It’s available in a nice range of colors, including: Alpine Sage (green); Black; Sandstone (brown); and my personal favorite, Blue Dusk.

It has a list price of $149 / £149.95 / AU$249.95, although I’ve already seen it available for $119 / £119 (about AU$180). Given it only launched in September 2024, that’s quite an enticing price – though it still has hot competition. Rivals like the JBL Flip 6, for instance, have been discounted to as little as $79 / £79 on Amazon.

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: specs

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: features

• Companion app compatibility
• Speaker pairing for stereo mode
• PositionIQ tech

Perhaps the biggest upgrade the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has over its predecessor is that it actually has a companion app. It’s not got a ton of fancy features, but it’s pretty much a must-have for modern Bluetooth speakers in my view – and this is a pretty slick, clean-looking app too.

So, let's start with the most important function – EQ settings. These were absent last time, and although it’s nice to have some customizability, they’re actually pretty disappointing. There’s a grand total of four presets: Bass Boost; Bass Reducer; Treble Boost; and Treble Reducer. Wow, really? Sure, you can manually adjust EQ across three bands (Bass, Mids, Treble), but I would’ve preferred to see more depth here – maybe some genre-specific presets, for instance.

So what else does the app have? Firstly, it has a Source option, to toggle Multi-point – a handy feature – on or off and view connected devices. It also has an option to change the function of the Shortcut button to Speaker Link (to pair Bose speakers), Voice Assistant or Spotify Resume – pretty neat. These are nice additions in my view, making for a decently well-rounded in-app experience – even if EQ options are a bit lacking.

But there’s more: the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 continues the use of PositionIQ. This essentially provides positional compensation, meaning that the speaker can optimize audio output depending on its placement and orientation – pretty cool for a small Bluetooth speaker like this that’s made for use in a range of environments. In addition, you can pair this speaker with another in order to access Stereo audio output – but frustratingly, this is locked to Gen 2 models alone. I can’t help but think that backwards compatibility with the original model would’ve been a real incentive for owners to opt for the upgrade, so this feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

Although this speaker has a USB-C port, you’re not able to use this for music output. There’s also no 3.5mm port, so it’s going to be wireless play only, guys. For me, this isn’t an issue, but the option would be a nice touch.

Finally, this speaker offers fairly average battery life. It can deliver approximately 12 hours of playtime with music at around 50% volume – the same as its predecessor and similarly-price competitors like the JBL Flip 6. Some may feel that simply matching its predecessor isn’t enough and what’s more, there are a lot of similarly-sized Bluetooth speakers that can offer superior numbers. Just look at the Beats Pill, for instance, which supplies an awesome 24 hours of playtime.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: sound quality

• Balanced, punchy sound
• Impressive dynamism and instrument separation
• Bass may be a little thin for some

On the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s box, Bose says that “you’ve never had a sidekick that sounds this good”. And for many, that may well be true – this speaker does offer balanced, pleasingly nuanced audio. But despite its talents, I would argue that audio isn’t quite S-tier quality.

One reason for this is that music can be a little rough around the edges at high volumes. When tuning into As If Waltz by Geordie Greep, I felt that the track sounded almost compressed at 90%-100%, with treble a touch abrasive and vocals lacking the crisp clarity I heard at lower volume levels. This was an issue we also identified in our review on the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s predecessor, but like that model, volume can climb surprisingly high for the speaker’s size, so if you’re not maxing out loudness, this likely won’t affect you.

Additionally, some may find that bass isn’t quite as impactful as they’d like, especially for larger rooms or more open spaces. Although bass is responsive and sharp, it can be a touch thin, especially out of the box. You can remedy this, in part, by upping bass levels in the Bose app, just don’t expect the boom of a larger party speaker. When listening to The Boys Are Back in Town by Yung Gravy, I found that the imposing, in-your-face low-end felt a little constricted. A significant factor here is, of course, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s size – it’s no beefy Boombox. If your main focus is ground-shaking low-frequency audio, you might want to consider a larger option, like the Earfun UBoom X or Bose SoundLink Max, for instance.

But anyway, that’s enough moaning. I want to be clear, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 does, in fact, sound very good and it’s going to offer a significant sonic step-up from almost any budget portable speaker. Why? Well there are a few key reasons. First of all, instrument separation is pretty strong. When playing St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, the warm double bass, forward-sounding sax, sporadic percussion and cool keys all occupied surprisingly separate spaces, combining for a satisfying listen.

On top of that, instrumental and vocal elements sound natural and detailed. For instance, the drum solo in St. Thomas sounded authentic with even the weight of each drum hit sounding discernible and true to life. The rainfall at the start of Rains again by Solji also maintained its intended sound, without coming through like static or a muffled, crackling mess. Vocals also had a breathy, delicate quality that many cheap alternatives miss out on.

I’ll circle back to bass as well. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not exactly thunderous, but it does have solid depth and a respectable bite for a small speaker. I listened to I Want You by Moloko on both the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 and a budget option – the Tribit Stormbox 2 – to identify the key benefits of splashing some extra cash. And bass clarity was one of the key improvements. With the Bose speaker, bass was neatly separated and had a more accurate tone than Tribit’s alternative – which served up a slightly muddied, muffled sound in comparison.

Another song with a lot of low-end emphasis – Black Eye by Allie X – produced similar results. The depth of the drum machine was replicated with far more finesse using Bose’s speakers, with the Tribit offering a more dulled sound. The dynamism of the bass connecting up to the lower mids was also far more impressive with the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, so if you’re willing to spend more on a Bluetooth speaker, you’ll certainly hear the difference, that much is certain.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: design

• IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating
• Attractive look with classy color options
• Simple, well-sized button controls

So perhaps unsurprisingly, I’d argue that the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s design is actually its standout aspect. It looks very similar – no, almost identical – to its predecessor, but I’m not complaining; it was a very nice-looking model.

This speaker has smooth, curved corners, a rubbery body and beautifully finished speaker grille. It’s available in a really nice set of colors too. These aren’t eye-poppingly vibrant, more-so classy and refined. The unit I reviewed came in Blue Dusk – a really beautiful medium-blue color that is neither boring or overbearing. It’s oriented to sit lengthways too and has four subtle bumps that act as a base for the speaker to stand on.

And that ties into a fantastic aspect of the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 – it’s equally as practical as it is pretty. Firstly, it has a pretty durable design, in part thanks to its rubber outer casing, which means it should be fine to throw around (to an extent) and capable of taking a few falls. It also has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, meaning it won’t succumb to an untimely death, even when submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It also has a handy fabric tab that you can use to attach the speaker to a bag or belt.

Finally, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has a solid set of onboard controls. You get power, Bluetooth, shortcut, volume up/down and play/pause buttons. All of these are perfectly sized and are super clear – there’s no second-guessing what does what. There is, however, a user manual and tips section in the Bose app, so you’ll be able to get the best out of your speaker. Really, there’s nothing I didn’t like about the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s design – it’s a true thing of beauty – but it doesn’t skimp on ease-of-use or durability either.

• Design score: 5/5

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: value

• Not the cheapest speaker out there
• But already available on sale
• Clear quality improvement over budget options, too

When it comes to value, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 finds what I’d call a happy medium. The bottom line is, this isn’t a cheap, budget product – but it’s not a top-of-the range, premium pick either.

And I’d argue that the quality you get here matches that price profile nicely. Audio quality – although not mind-blowing – is very good and skips on the muddy, constricted sound you get from a lot of budget options. But you also get a stunning design and a decent enough feature-set to boot, which really help to justify the price tag.

You can already get this bad boy on sale too. I headed over to Amazon in the US and the UK and spotted this thing on discount, so you won’t have to spend a lot more than $120 / £120 if you’re savvy. That’s really not too bad given the quality on show – and given it’s predecessor was only a touch less. So again, it may not be the ultimate budget-friendly pick, but the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 still earns its keep.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: also consider

Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Predominantly used at the Future Labs music testing space
• Mainly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S

I spent hours listening to music on the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, testing it across various EQ modes and volume levels. I predominantly used the speaker in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge audio quality and validate battery life claims.

When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Fiio M11S hi-res music player. I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist as well as a bunch of songs from my personal library. This included songs with deep bass, high-pitched vocals, and complexly layered mixes, enabling me to hear the speaker’s full range capabilities and dynamism across different frequencies. I also used the Tribit Stormbox 2 to closely assess the improvements this Bose speaker can offer over a more budget model.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Earfun UBoom X review: two-minute review

If you’re on the hunt for an affordable, bass-heavy party speaker the Earfun UBoom X might be your perfect match. This mini boombox sets out to deliver one thing above all – powerful, ground-shaking low frequency sound. Thankfully it achieves this without any difficulty.

Here’s the thing, though: the Earfun UBoom X isn’t a beautiful-sounding all-rounder for the audiophiles out there. It doesn’t offer massively detailed sound or the sharpest quality across the frequencies and steers clear of offering fancy audio codecs like aptX or LDAC. But again, this isn’t really too much of a miss given its party-ready profile. On top of that, sound is actually pretty customizable – just download the Earfun Audio app and you can select from a giant cohort of EQ options, including genre-specific, environment-optimized and custom options.

Some of these, such as Outdoor+, BOOM xxX and Ground 0 really lean into the strengths of the speaker’s bass. However, if you prefer a more neutral sound, there are options like Studio, which was crafted by audio expert and multi-time Earfun collaborator Oluv’Sone.

With meaty bass comes plenty of weight too. Yes, this is a pretty heavy creature and so the option to carry it via a handle for short distances or the included strap for longer ones is most welcome. And that’s part of a wider theme with the UBoom X – it’s a very practical speaker. Whether we’re talking about its IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating or its ability to double up as a power bank, you’ll find plenty of utility here. Sure, looks-wise it may not be as pretty as some of the best Bluetooth speakers, but you do still get LED lights that are decently fun and customizable and can be turned off if you’d prefer.

Another attractive aspect of the UBoom X is its excellent battery life. You get around 30 hours of playtime here, which stands up against some top competitors in the party speaker space, like the Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance. Features-wise, you also get a relatively generous amount to play with, including the aforementioned EQ settings, video mode (for low latency), voice assistant compatibility and LED light calibration.

So, for a deep bass floor, top battery life and healthy portion of features, you’d expect to pay up a fair amount. However, Earfun are already offering the UBoom X on discount – it’s widely available for as little as $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which is impeccable value.

Overall, the Earfun UBoom X is a speaker worth your while, but only if you’re a certain type of listener. If you’re someone that wants a more balanced, intricately detailed and crisp sound, you may prefer a Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Xtreme 4, which also launched in 2024. However, if you’re someone that’s all about bass-heavy bangers, loves to throw house parties or wants enough low-end power for noisy outdoor events, this is a strong pick. With waterproofing, a sturdy build and a tempting low-price, the Earfun UBoom X is a very solid boombox-style speaker and one that can compete competently against even some of the best party speakers.

Earfun UBoom X review: price and release date

• List price of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280)
• Launched on October 2024
• Already discounted despite recent release

The Earfun UBoom X is available at a pretty modest price for a Bluetooth speaker of its size. I mean, it launched with a list price of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280), but it’s (perhaps cheekily) already available for considerably less. When I checked both the Earfun website and Amazon, I spotted the UBoom X listed for $159.99 / £149.99, so don’t spend any more than this if you decide to snap it up.

This is a very new Bluetooth speaker, having only launched on 8 October 2024 in the US and UK. Perhaps unfortunately, though, the UBoom X released with just one color variant, a plain yet classic Black.

Earfun UBoom X review: specs

Earfun UBoom X review: features

• Excellent 30-hour battery life
• Awesome EQ settings
• Easy-to-use companion app

The Earfun UBoom X may not have an exhaustively long feature-set, but it still has all the key inclusions you’d expect from a party-ready Bluetooth speaker.

First things first, you’re getting a simple and decently well-equipped Earfun Audio companion app that is free to download. The star of the show here is EQ adjustment – there are a ton of presets available, but you can also customize your own sound or tweak existing options. The core Earfun EQ options are very solid and I often found myself switching to Electronic for deep bass with bright treble or Hit for percussion-heavy tracks. In addition, you get a unique section of EQ options from audio specialist Oluv’Sone, including some truly earth-shaking options like BOOM xxX and Ground 0.

There’s not a load more to play with in the app. You can activate video mode, which reduces audio latency, adjust voice volume or consult the user manual. But the main attraction outside of EQ is adjustable light settings. Although you can adjust the inbuilt LED lighting on the speaker itself, being able to switch things up remotely is super convenient, especially if you’re in a dark room / outdoor space. You can select between rhythmic flashing and a constant display or just switch the lights off entirely, but you can also adjust the color to your liking (or stick to the default multicolor option).

Beyond app functionality, you also get Party Mode, which enables you to connect up to 50 UBoom X speakers at once. If any of you out there are planning to pair 50 of these, I fear you could cause tremors to spread across the land – honestly, this will give you some incredible low-end power – ideal if you’re hosting an outdoor event. One multi-device feature that I was hoping to see was multi-point. This enables you to connect two (or more) devices to a Bluetooth speaker at once – ideal if you’re sharing DJ responsibilities with a friend. Unfortunately, this was missing, but if you’re using Spotify to play music, you can always just use the Jam function instead of connecting two devices separately.

Finally, it's worth noting some features that make the UBoom X an ultra-practical Bluetooth speaker. First of all, it has an inbuilt microphone, meaning you can take hands-free calls and also harness the power of both Google assist and Apple’s Siri voice assistant. Secondly, the UBoom X can double up as a power bank, thanks to its USB-C out port, which can be a lifesaver if your phone is on its last legs when you’re out and about. And there’s plenty of power to go around. This speaker boasts up to 30 hours of playtime – that’s truly exceptional and means you’ll rarely have to charge it.

• Features score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: sound quality

• Almighty bass output
• Decent but not particularly detailed audio performance
• Pretty loud thanks to total 80W output

OK reader, let’s get something straight before we dive into sound quality. This is, at its core, a party speaker. So what am I looking for? Booming bass that can cut through background noise or outdoor distractions, high potential volume and relatively clear overall audio quality. And luckily, the Earfun UBoom X has all three of these.

And given that this chunky lad has ‘Boom’ in its name let’s start with bass. Just as you’d hope, this thing goes really hard on the low-end – even when using the default EQ mode I was struck by meaty bass with impressive depth. When I tuned into I Want You by Moloko I instantly found my head bopping to the pumping, room-filling bass and when switching to BOOM xxX mode, our testing space was almost shaking from the pure power on display. Sure, the breathiness of vocals in the intro wasn’t recreated in the most natural-sounding or authentic manner, but this wasn’t a huge concern for me given the UBoom X’s party speaker profile.

The Earfun UBoom X speaker is undoubtedly inclined to lean heavily on bass straight out of the box, which is perfect if you’re into house, drum and bass or any genres that emphasize low frequency sounds above all. For instance, when listening to Da Fonk (feat. Joni) by Mochakk – an energetic house track – the UBoom X was truly in its element, with hard-hitting, intoxicating bass hits, which were astonishingly powerful in Ground 0 mode. OK, some of the vocal chops didn’t cut through as clearly as you’d expect from a more balanced (and expensive) party speaker like the JBL Xtreme 4, but they weren’t muddied too badly at all. And this ground-shaking bass output isn’t just pleasing sonically; it's very practical for a portable boombox like this, especially if you’re hosting outdoor events or visiting places with lots of background noise, like the beach.

Let’s say, though, just for the sake of it, you’d like to tone bass levels down a bit for a more balanced sound. Well, you’re in luck. You can select the Studio EQ option from the Earfun app – this is more neutral-sounding, albeit quieter. I tried listening to The Ripple Effect podcast from James Lawrence Alcott in this mode and found vocals to be clear, even at high volumes.

Audio isn’t always particularly detailed, however. For instance, when listening to You Can Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, harmonies in the chorus sounded slightly narrow and restricted. At times, mid range sounds were slightly overpowered by low-frequency ones too. I also found when tuning into Holy Holy by Geordie Greep (using default EQ settings) that the theatrical strings, smooth bass, dancing keys and choppy electric guitar – although all audible – lacked the levels of instrumental separation that I’d like. One more critique on sound (sorry Earfun) – treble can be quite bright with the UBoom X, but it’s not always ultra-crisp. For instance, in Rains again by Solji the intermittent downpour sound effects were a tad staticky, but again, for a boombox-style speaker, this won’t be grating for most listeners.

I did, however, encounter one more slight audio-related issue during the testing process. On a number of occasions, I would turn the volume up or down on my phone while connected to the speaker via Bluetooth, and sound would cut out for a split second. Earfun assured me that this is not a common issue, but that it should be fixed via an in-app firmware update around the end of October 2024.

Overall, though, the UBoom X completes what it sets out to do very nicely. OK, it’s not going to blow the socks off audiophiles with super-detailed sound, there’s no fancy codecs like LDAC or similar and bass may be a little heavy-handed for some. But for an out-and-out party speaker at this price-point, I think this has a great sound profile with respectable loudness, thanks to an 80W maximum power output. Just don’t expect prime sonic clarity, especially as you edge closer to 100% volume.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: design

• Doesn’t look the most high-quality
• Fairly low-key light show
• IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating

The Earfun UBoom X delivers exactly what you’d expect from a larger Bluetooth speaker. It dons a mini-boombox look with a blocky, solid build and wide carry handle. It definitely pulls off the boombox aesthetic well, but it does admittedly lack a splash of character. For instance, there are no color options here – it’s black or nothing – which is fine, but I’d prefer some more vibrant alternatives. The bass radiators on the side of the speaker are also a bit plain and don’t have the most visually satisfying vibration effect, leaving this speaker looking slightly flat in the looks department.

On that point, this isn’t a premium product so you shouldn’t expect stunning build quality, but I couldn’t help but feel that the UBoom X is a tad cheap-looking. The outer casing is pretty plasticky and the black speaker grille doesn’t look or feel very hardy. This isn’t too much of a problem given that this is available for less than £200 / $200, but if you want a super-stylish speaker it may be worth looking elsewhere.

Something I did personally like about the UBoom X’s design, though, is its LED lights. These are bright and eye-catching, but don’t venture into the tacky or overbearing territory that so many competitors fall victim of. We’ve not always been a fan of in-your-face lighting on party speakers like the Tribit Stormbox Blast, but the UBoom X never oversteps with its two circular LEDs. It’s worth noting that these only shine through the front of the speaker grille too, so if you’re someone that wants something ultra-flashy, this might not be your best option.

Something that is indisputably brilliant about this Bluetooth speaker, though, is its IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating. This means that the speaker can survive being submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It’s also floatable, meaning you can take it in the sea or pool with you without fear of a disastrous malfunction. Another practical inclusion is metal hooks on top of the speaker. There’s a strap included with the UBoom X so that you can carry it around – a neat touch given that this thing is a heavy beast. Yep, it weighs in at 9.2lbs / 4.2kg and that’s quite hefty, so the option to sling it over your shoulder adds a lot of portability points.

One final highlight is the speaker’s simplistic yet effective layout. For instance, the button controls are all well-sized and it’s clear what function they provide. There’s also a rubber tab on the reverse side that can be undone to access the AUX port and access the USB-C input or output ports. So, although this may not be the sleekest boombox imaginable, it still offers more than enough convenience as well as protection against the elements – for a party speaker, that’s what matters most.

• Design score: 4/5

Earfun UBoom X review: value

• Won’t set you back too much at all
• Great bass output against similarly priced competitors
• Buying multiple may be worth it

When it comes to value, the Earfun UBoom X performs very nicely. I think it’s clear – you can’t expect astonishing overall audio from this thing. In fact, there’ll be a lot of other boombox style speakers around that can boast even better low-end output. But if you want a cheap, bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker, the UBoom X is a textbook compromise between price and performance.

This speaker is already available for around $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which isn’t much at all for a larger portable speaker like this. That’s even less than the likes of the Tribit Stormbox Blast, a similarly sized party speaker. Brands like JBL can charge double or more than this for their boombox speaker, meaning you may even prefer to grab two UBoom Xs and harness the power of Party Mode. Given the 30 hour battery life and highly customizable sound here, the UBoom X is a great value option for your next Bluetooth speaker.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Earfun UBoom X?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Earfun UBoom X review: also consider

Earfun UBoom X review: how I tested

• Spent hours listening to music, podcasts and video
• Primarily used in music testing space, future Labs
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to the Earfun UBoom X in our music testing space at future Labs. During my time with the UBoom X, I played tons of tracks from my personal music library, but also tuned into the TechRadar testing playlist, which I always use to pick apart performance across a variety of genres and frequency ranges. When listening to music, I connected to the speaker with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and primarily listened via Tidal.

This wasn’t all though: I also listened to a podcast on Spotify and watched video content on YouTube in order to assess quality across different platforms and mediums. When appropriate, I used the JBL Xtreme 4 to compare audio quality, design choices and usability.

• First reviewed: October 2024
• Read more about how we test

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4: Two-minute review

We’ve long been fans of the Wonderboom series: compact, durable speakers designed to go with you anywhere and pump out sound quality far better than you’d expect for the size – and Ultimate Ears is a name that regularly features in our best Bluetooth speakers roundup. The Logitech brand clearly knows it’s onto a winner with this model, because the latest iteration – the aptly named Wonderboom 4 – doesn’t change too much.

Like the Wonderboom 2 and 3 before it, this is a well-built, backpack-friendly Bluetooth speaker that can survive a fair few adventures. Not only does it feel sturdy in the hand, but its IP67 rating equates to top-tier water- and dust-proofing. In case you wanted further confirmation, throw it in the drink and it also floats.

Sonically, the Wonderboom 4 is identical to the Wonderboom 3. Bass output has no business being so punchy for such a small speaker, while both clarity and separation are impressive at reasonable volumes. Only when you push up the decibels is there a noticeable loss of detail.

You also get all the listening features of previous versions, including stereo pairing, 360-degree sound output and Outdoor Boost for beefier alfresco audio. New for the Wonderboom 4 is a Podcast mode, which adjusts EQ settings to better suit the spoken word. Oh, and Ultimate Ears has finally made the switch to USB-C on the Wonderboom as well – hurrah! 

If you don’t need USB-C connectivity or the added vocal clarity of the Podcast Mode, the now-discounted Wonderboom 3 offers better value. But for the price and size, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Bluetooth speaker that can beat the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Price and release date

• Released June 26, 2024
• Officially priced at $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 was released in June 2024, priced at $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149. That’s the same as the Wonderboom 3 cost at launch, putting it firmly in the affordable category. It’s worth noting that the Wonderboom 3 has since been discounted, making it an even cheaper option with identical audio hardware.

At that price, the Wonderboom 4 sits in a very a competitive category, with recent price reductions bringing both the JBL Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink Micro down to similar numbers. As you’ll read below, though, we think the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker to depend on when you travel.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Specs

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Features

• 14-hour battery life
• USB-C charging port
• No aux-in or microphone

One of the headline changes for the Wonderboom 4 is the switch from a microUSB charging port to USB-C. With the world well on its way to a one-cable future, this change was long overdue on the Wonderboom 3. So while it might seem a minor update, it’s also a welcome one that means you've got one less wire to worry about.

Otherwise, the Wonderboom 4’s feature set remains very much the same as its predecessor. As before, there’s no 3.5mm aux input, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want the option to hard-wire your audio source. There’s no built-in mic, either, so the Wonderboom 4 can’t function as a speakerphone.

Nor does it benefit from the app support of more premium Ultimate Ears speakers, such as the Hyperboom. While the option to connect to the Boom app would objectively add value, we think it’s no bad thing that the Wonderboom 4 is an ‘offline’ speaker; it keeps things simple and accessible, while the Outdoor Boost and new Podcast sound modes (see below) offer all the EQ adjustment that most people would expect at this price point.

Wireless pairing is by Bluetooth 5.2. This isn’t the latest standard and, as we’d expect for an affordable speaker, there’s no support for hi-res codecs. But it can host multiple connections simultaneously, in case you’re sharing DJ duties.

Where the Wonderboom 4 continues to excel is battery life. Rated at 14 hours from a full charge, we routinely achieved better than this during testing. On a single stint, this is a speaker that simply goes and goes. And it’s also the kind of speaker that you could charge at a weekend and use heavily throughout the week, without worrying that you’re about to see the red light come on.

• Features score: 4/5

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Design

• Available in four color options
• IP67 waterproof and dust-proof
• Six-button interface

Owners of the Wonderboom 3 won’t find anything physically different about the Wonderboom 4. It remains a compact, tidily designed Bluetooth speaker that’s put together very well. Weighing just 420g and measuring 104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm, it’s a neat little cylinder that’s perfect for tossing in a bag.

Four color schemes are yours to choose between: Active Black, Cobalt Blue, Hyper Pink and Joyous Bright. Preference is personal, but each of these color combos are characterful in their own way, complementing the Wonderboom 4’s fun-sized stature with a natty look. Each features those trademark Ultimate Ears volume buttons in a bold contrasting hue, with a matching fabric loop that can be used to carabiner the Wonderboom 4 to the outside of your backpack.

It’s all very familiar and all the better for it. From the fabric wrap to the rubberized bumpers top and bottom, the Wonderboom 4 feels like it’s built to go the distance. Despite its lightweight construction, it’s reassuringly solid in the hand. That’s borne out by an IP67 rating against water and dust, plus it’s drop-proof from 1.5m and floats for good measure. All of which adds up to a speaker that’s genuinely adventure-proof and made for the great outdoors.

Besides those unmissable volume buttons, you’ll find three controls on top of the Wonderboom 4 and one beneath. There is a slight learning curve here: the top buttons are unmarked for minimalism, but that does mean it takes a little time to remember their functions. One is for power, one for pairing and the central one is a multi-function number for controlling playback and connecting to other Wonderbooms in stereo.

Underneath is a button marked by a tree symbol, which is used to switch between standard, Podcast and Outdoor Boost sound modes.

• Design score: 5/5

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Sound quality

• Punchy 360-degree sound output
• Double Up stereo pairing
• Outdoor Boost and Podcast EQ modes

To the ears, the Wonderboom 4 is identical to the Wonderboom 3. That’s because it uses the same pair of active drivers, together with two passive radiators, to pump out 360-degree sound. The result is a speaker that punches well above its weight when it comes to both low-end oomph and overall clarity.

Audiophiles will find things to pick at, but for its price and proportions, the Wonderboom 4 is right up there with the best in this bracket. Bass is bold, yet it doesn’t overwhelm the mids and trebles. There’s impressive separation here for a portable Bluetooth speaker, with a richness to the output that isn’t found in many speakers of a similar size. The soundstage is nicely balanced, too.

Crank the volume beyond reasonable levels and you will encounter distortion, with harsh treble creeping in. That said, we were impressed with how well the Wonderboom 4 handled complex tracks even at higher volumes. It’s perfectly capable of filling a small or medium room, and we found that positioning it in a corner or near a wall gives a fuller sound.

For more immersive listening, you have the option to Double Up with another Wonderboom 3 or 4. You can have both speakers play the same audio, or use them as left and right separates for proper two-channel audio. The result in our experience is no gimmick, revealing plenty of details that would be lost in single-speaker playback.

If you’re listening outdoors, the Outdoor Boost setting reduces the bass and amps up the treble. This produces audio that carries better outside, but it also comes with a clear loss in quality. It’s a useful setting for picnic playlists, but not one to use at home. 

New for the Wonderboom 4 is a Podcast mode, which tweaks the EQ to suit spoken vocals. Listening in the kitchen, there was a difference in output versus the standard mode, with words carrying more clearly in a mix that focuses on upper midrange frequencies, giving a marginally more emotive quality to speech patterns. That said, you’d have to be a keen-eared podcast enthusiast to really pick up on this or value it as a dedicated feature.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Value

We’ve always rated Wonderboom speakers as excellent value and the fourth version is no exception. For the price, you’re getting a fun, compact speaker that’s built tough and capable of impressive sound quality. Add to that its solid battery life and the option to pair it in stereo, and we think it stacks up as one of the most complete Bluetooth speakers you can buy for the money.

You’ll need to look elsewhere for certain features, such as the app connectivity offered by the similarly priced JBL Flip 6. But that’s not a dealbreaker for the price, and for most people the Wonderboom 4 will do all that they need and more.

It’s worth mentioning that recent discounts mean the Wonderboom 3 is now available for less, making it better value outright. If you don’t need USB-C connectivity or a Podcast mode, it gives you an identical listening experience for a lower price, at least while stocks last. Otherwise, we think the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 represents fantastic value for a Bluetooth speaker in 2024.

• Value score: 4.5/5

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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review: Also consider

How I tested the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

• Tested for a month, both indoors and in the back garden
• Played a variety of music types
• Listened via the Spotify app on iPhone

I used the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 as my go-to Bluetooth speaker for the best part of a month. That meant listening to it both at home and while travelling around the UK, sticking it in my backpack for a number of trips to see how it held up on the road.

The Wonderboom 4 went on a real musical journey with me, as I streamed a wide variety of genres via Spotify on my iPhone. That eclectic selection covered everything from mellow background music to Seventies classics, plus more than a few kitchen anthems.

It handled playlist and podcast duties indoors, and was also put to the test around the firepit, soundtracking most of my September evenings on the patio, whatever the weather.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: September 2024