UE Wonderboom Review

The UE Wonderboom is surprisingly loud considering its size. However, it doesn't offer any better sound quality than the UE Roll 2, which is still a better overall option if portability is at the top of your checklist.

Performance Comparison

The UE Wonderboom did fairly well in our overall scoring, as you can see in the table above. However, we didn't feel that it carved out a unique enough niche for itself to be an award winner. In the sections that follow we'll elaborate on that point, and how the Wonderboom performed in all of the tests we conducted.

Sound Quality

This is where the Wonderboom sort of fell out of our graces. While it sounds fairly good, earning a 6 out of 10 in this metric, it is no better than its more portable sibling, the UE Roll 2. We were hoping that the Wonderboom would be like the Roll 2 with better bass, but alas it created the same sort of middle of the road sound that was well balanced but slightly thin. In the Roll 2 this slightly thin sound feels totally worth the gains you make in portability, but in the larger Wonderboom it is somewhat disappointing.

Portability

The Wonderboom is one of the more portable models we tested, and it earned an 8 out of 10 in this metric. It squeaks in at just under a pound, and has a short cylindrical that packs into a bag fairly well. It is also IPX7 waterproof, so it can survive complete submersion in water. It also has a small keeper loop that is just big enough to fit a carabiner. However, the UE Roll 2 handily outdoes the Wonderboom in this capacity, weighing just 11.2 ounces and sporting a flat profile that fits almost anywhere. While the Wonderboom is good, if you're looking for something super portable we would still go with the Roll 2.

Volume

This is the one place where the Wonderboom does stand out. It is quite loud, especially compared to other models of commensurate size. It earned an 8 out of 10 in this metric, putting it just behind the top scorers, which are all much larger than the Wonderboom. It had plenty of power to provide music for a big group of people in our testing apartment, and is loud enough that you could easily annoy the other beachgoers on a crowded summer day. If you're looking for something small yet loud, this is the one area where the Wonderboom shines.

Battery Life

The Wonderboom was quite impressive in our battery life testing, almost doubling its manufacturer claimed battery life when it lasted 19.5 hours. This put it towards the top of the battery life score sheet, bested only by the borderline unbelievable performances of the JBL Charge 3 and the Anker SoundCore 2.

Value

At a list price of $100, the UE Wonderboom is a good value if you're looking for something very small that is also very loud. However, if you're looking for portability more than maximum volume, the UE Roll 2 is a much better value.

Conclusion