UE Wonderboom 3 vs. 2 – A year apart, but no major changes

If you are one of those who cannot go on a trip without your portable speaker, this article is of interest to you! In it, we are going to compare two speakers from the same range that, despite being more than a year apart, hardly show any changes.

We refer to UE Wonderboom 3 vs UE Wonderboom 2, both of the Ultimate Ears brand. If you have not heard of this company, let us tell you that it is a brand whose speakers are valid both for everyday people on the street and for music professionals. In fact, Ultimate Ears boasts on its website of having clients like Coldplay or Sam Smith, but without ceasing to be available to the most amateur ears.

The result is a range of wireless speakers that, while they have some pretty powerful features, have left us with a bittersweet taste. Perhaps because we expected more from someone who claims that Paul McCartney himself is a regular customer? It may be, but it is not the only thing that throws us back. In fact, as you will see, the changes we see in the new model compared to the previous one are barely noticeable.

However, judge for yourself based on the characteristics and the comparison that we show you below.

UE Wonderboom 3 vs. UE Wonderboom 2 – Comparison Table

In this comparative table, we show you the main characteristics of each speaker so that, at a single glance, you can get an idea of ​​how far the new model has evolved:

Design: same size, different color

There is no doubt that the first thing we see of any technological device is its design. And, in the case of the two Wonderboom speakers, we highlight that they maintain exactly the same shape. In fact, the dimensions are identical and they weigh the same. In addition, both have the large buttons on the front to increase or decrease the volume, and with the same controls on the sides. They also share the hook at the top in case we want to hang it.

However, there is something in which they do change: the color. Actually, the two are available in various colors, but they are not the same. The Wonderboom 3 can be purchased in black, electric blue, fuchsia, and white. Instead, the Wonderboom 2 is available in black, fuchsia, avocado green, and unicorn, which is a mix of several bold colors.

The power of sound, unchanged

Leaving aside the aesthetic issue, the functional element that we pay most attention to is the sound power and the set of speakers that each one has. Well, in this aspect, there is no variation. Both models have the same speakers and reach a very similar maximum sound power. Both offer 360º surround sound, as announced by the brand itself, but the truth is that we have not noticed any improvement from the Wonderboom 2 model to the Wonderboom 3.

Ultimate Ears has missed the opportunity it had to solve in the Wonderboom 3 some problems that its predecessor had, but it has not done so. Basically, both perform well on bass, but lag farther off on treble and mids. We expected to find a more modern equalizer on the Wonderboom 3, but that hasn’t been the case.

What we do like is the Outdoor mode that the two speakers have. Actually, it is a function that automatically increases the volume if we are outside. On the other hand, the controls are the same on both speakers, since with light touches we can pause, advance or change the song. Of course, we cannot go back to a previous song, but only jump to later songs.

Slight improvement in autonomy

We recognize that, in another comparison, we might not have considered this difference as such, but taking into account that we are dealing with two speakers that are practically the same, any slight change is noticeable. This is the case with the battery life, which increases from 13 hours on the Wonderboom 2 to 14 hours on the Wonderboom 3. This, as always, is quite relative because it depends on several factors that vary widely, such as the volume at which you play the sound.

Of course, both have a micro USB port to charge the speaker, and in both cases it takes approximately 2.6 hours to complete the charge.

Resistance, one of the great strengths in both

If we had to highlight one feature over the others in the Wonderboom, both in model 2 and 3, it would be their resistance to water and dust. In theory, the two speakers have an IP67 rating, but we must admit that it seems to us that they have more endurance than other speakers that also have that level.

How can we know? Mainly, because we have taken them to the beach and the performance is superior to that of other small wireless speakers. Also, according to the brand, the two models can be submerged for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, although we must admit that we have not dared to try it.

Matchmaking function, but with nuances

If you’ve owned other speakers of this type, you probably know that some have a feature that allows you to pair them with other devices to multiply the sound. In this case, both Wonderboom speakers have this function, although there is a small nuance to take into account.

The Wonderboom 3 can only be paired with another Wonderboom 3, and version 2 is only compatible with another Wonderboom 2. We can’t help but wonder why the brand hasn’t allowed pairing with all lower models in the case of the Wonderboom, which it would multiply the synchronization between different devices.

And the price?

The first thing we would think of with any new model in a range of electronic devices is that the price is higher than the previous model, but in this case it is not. The Wonderboom 3 is practically the same price, or very similar, as the Wonderboom 2, which helps us to confirm that the brand has not implemented major improvements.

Wonderboom 3 vs. Wonderboom 2: What conclusion do we draw?

We are going to sound very repetitive, but we have really been surprised by the way in which Ultimate Ears has missed the opportunity to show a more innovative and advanced speaker to its fans. However, it has released a speaker that is pretty much the same as the previous model, just in different colors.

This decision would have been fine if it hadn’t been for the fact that more than a year has elapsed between the two models, enough time for users to have higher expectations. Or so that they at least expect some improvement, but in this case, there is practically none.

It is true that the price does not rise, so if you have not bought any yet and do not know which one to choose, we must say that the decision can be guided by an aesthetic issue. That is, by the color that you like the most, since in terms of sound power, quality, water resistance and price, they are the same. The Wonderboom 3 has a bit more range, but it’s not a difference to really be noticeable, and range can vary for other reasons that disperse this slight uptick.

In summary, it is not that the two protagonists of this article are of poor quality, quite the opposite. The thing is, we didn’t notice big changes between the new model and the old one, which came on the market more than a year earlier. Therefore, the choice between Wonderboom 3 vs. Wonderboom 2 can be summed up in that you be guided by the design that you like the most.