Ultimate Ears
UE Boom 4
$149.99Cheaper
Released 2024
Best Portable Speakers · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. UE Boom 4 is cheaper at $149.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Ultimate Ears
$149.99Cheaper
Released 2024
Marshall
$179.99
Released 2023
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The UE Boom 4 is the cheaper at $149.99.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149.99 | $179.99 |
| Brand | Ultimate Ears | Marshall |
| Released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Battery hr | 15 | 32 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Drivers | — | 2×2-inch full-range + 2 passive radiators |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.3 |
| Weight (lb) | — | 1.48 |
| Stereo pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Aux (in) | No | No |
| Release | 2024 | 2023 |
Sources — UE Boom 4: ultimateears.com (verified 2026-06-15). Marshall Emberton III: marshall.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (1 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
No sourced tester review yet.
Two whitelisted outlets (Tom's Guide, TechRadar) hands-on tested the Emberton III over several weeks. Both praise class-leading battery life (30-32 hours vs a ~20-hour category norm), the rugged Marshall-amp styling, and impressively loud, punchy sound for the small size. Both flag the same core limitation: mids get de-emphasized and the sound turns harsh with bass distortion when pushed loud, plus there is no custom EQ (only three fixed presets) and no aux input. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Exceptional battery life (30-32 hours, far beyond category norm); Rugged, distinctive Marshall-amp design and build; Impressively loud and punchy sound for its small size.
Flagged: Weak/scooped mid-range; sound harshens and bass distorts at high volume; No customizable EQ (only three fixed presets); No 3.5mm aux input.