Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Review

The Enduring Banger: Does the UE Megaboom 4 Still Reign Supreme?

In the fiercely competitive arena of portable Bluetooth speakers, few names carry the same weight as Ultimate Ears. For years, the Megaboom line has been the de facto choice for those who need their music to be as adventurous as they are. It’s the speaker you see clipped to a backpack on a trail, sitting poolside without fear, or providing the soundtrack for a backyard barbecue. With the arrival of the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4, the question isn’t whether it’s a good speaker—the pedigree is too strong for that—but whether its iterative evolution is enough to maintain its crown against a new wave of formidable rivals.

A Design Forged in the Elements

Pulling the Megaboom 4 from its box feels familiar, and that’s largely a good thing. UE has wisely stuck with its iconic cylindrical design, a form factor that’s as much about acoustic engineering as it is about aesthetics. The signature two-tone acoustic fabric is not just for looks; it’s tough, stain-resistant, and integral to its go-anywhere persona. The massive, unmissable volume buttons remain a triumph of functional design, easily pressed even with wet hands or gloves.

Build quality is, without exaggeration, tank-like. With an IP67 rating, the Megaboom 4 is not just water-resistant but fully waterproof and dustproof. It can be submerged in a meter of water for 30 minutes and emerge unscathed. Crucially, it also floats, making it the perfect companion for any aquatic activity. This isn’t just a speaker that tolerates the outdoors; it was born for it. The upgrade to a USB-C charging port is a long-overdue and welcome modernization, finally aligning it with the rest of our tech ecosystem.

The 360-Degree Sound Machine

UE built its reputation on immersive, 360-degree sound, and the Megaboom 4 continues this legacy with confidence. The internal driver arrangement is designed to fire sound in all directions, creating a remarkably consistent listening experience regardless of where you stand. This is its superpower in social settings, effortlessly filling a room or outdoor space without creating “dead zones.”

Sonically, the Megaboom 4 delivers the energetic, bass-forward sound signature its fans expect. The low-end has a satisfying thump that gives weight to electronic, pop, and hip-hop tracks, and it manages to do so without becoming a muddy mess at higher volumes. Mids and highs are present and clear, though they don’t sparkle with the same analytical detail as some more audiophile-focused competitors. This is a speaker tuned for fun, not for critical listening in a quiet room. The BOOM & MEGABOOM app offers a capable EQ, allowing you to tame the bass or boost the treble to your preference, which is an essential tool for personalizing the audio.

Features, Smarts, and Stamina

Beyond its rugged exterior, the Megaboom 4 packs a thoughtful feature set. The advertised 20-hour battery life is largely accurate under normal listening volumes, providing more than enough power for a full day of use. The “Magic Button” on top is a simple but effective multi-function control for play, pause, and skipping tracks.

The real star of the ecosystem is PartyUp. Using the companion app, you can wirelessly connect the Megaboom 4 with an almost absurd number of other BOOM and Megaboom speakers (up to 150) for a massive, synchronized sound system. While few will test that upper limit, linking even two or three speakers creates an impressively large and immersive soundstage for bigger events. However, a notable weakness for a premium speaker in this price bracket is its connectivity. The lack of support for higher-fidelity codecs like aptX or LDAC is a missed opportunity for those who stream high-resolution audio. It relies on the standard SBC codec, which is perfectly functional but not top-tier.

The Verdict: Still the King of the Outdoors?

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 is an exercise in confident refinement rather than radical reinvention. It doubles down on the core tenets that made its predecessors so successful: class-leading durability, powerful room-filling sound, and outstanding battery life. It’s an unapologetically robust speaker built for life outside the living room.

For the adventure seeker, the pool-party host, or anyone who prioritizes resilience above all else, the Megaboom 4 remains an elite choice and a sound investment. However, if your primary use is critical indoor listening, or if you already own a Megaboom 3, the incremental upgrades may not be compelling enough. The competition has caught up, with rivals offering smart assistant integration or superior audio codec support at similar price points. Yet, when it comes to a perfect blend of power and sheer toughness, the Megaboom 4 proves that its formula is still incredibly hard to beat.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon