The Wonderboom 3 portable Bluetooth speaker improves on a good thing

Ultimate Ears just announced the Wonderboom 3, the latest iteration of its beloved entry-level portable speaker that promises high-quality 360-degree audio and up to 14 hours of battery life in a cute compact package that still floats on the water.

Strangely enough, the Microboom 3 still uses a micro USB connection in our good year 2022. It feels a bit… well, lazy to take over the same unfriendly port from the Wonderboom 2 when USB-C is available and mandatory for portable speakers in Europe from 2024.

The third-generation Wonderboom offers a few improvements over the Wonderboom 2, while keeping the price unchanged at $99.99. The Bluetooth range is now 131 feet (more than the 100 feet range on the Wonderboom 2) and the reported battery life has improved by an hour. As before, two of the speakers can be linked together for true stereo separation, but now the increased range and battery life can mean your audio covers more ground at parties. Ultimate Ears has also blown more sustainability into the speaker, claiming they are made from a minimum of 31 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.

If you were a fan of the fact that both older models can float in water, then you’ll be happy to hear that the Wonderboom 3 continues that tradition, with an IP67 rating for water, dirt and dust resistance. That rating also means it withstands jets of water when you want to listen to tunes in the shower — it’s also “drop-proof” when it gets slippery.

While a few design changes have been made between the original Wonderboom and the Wonderboom 2, this latest model looks visually identical to its predecessor, with two-tone fabric and a flat bungee cord loop.

The Wonderboom 3 speaker will be available at launch in four different colors: gray, pink, blue and black, each with a contrasting strap and iconic control buttons to make them stand out against the body. Ultimate Ears says the speaker will “initially” come in these colors, suggesting we could see more colorways hitting the market in the future if you need more choices.

Image: Ultimate Ears / Logitech

The Wonderboom 3 seems like a modest upgrade from the previous generation, but hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — especially if you’re releasing a successor to one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers on the market. It’s set to arrive in both the US and UK on August 31 for $99.99 / £89.

Update August 17, 6:39 AM ET: Added mention of Micro USB charging.