Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
The Wonderboom 2 features improved battery life, a more thoughtful design, and richer sound. It's also IP67 rated, so it'll survive a few splashes while you're hanging out by the river.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
The original Wonderboom introduced big sound in a tiny package. Unfortunately, the original has inferior battery life, a stiffer design, and isn't dustproof.
If you plan to spend time outdoors this summer, you'll need a portable speaker. The Wonderboom and Wonderboom 2 are both small and lightweight, making them easy to carry. But don't be fooled by their size; these speakers offer big, robust sound, too.
Let's break it down
With the Wonderboom 2, Ultimate Ears introduced some important improvements that make the new speaker a big upgrade over the original. And it still comes at an affordable price, making the Wonderboom 2 a great companion for the great outdoors.
| Category | Wonderboom | Wonderboom 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 hours | 13 hours |
| Water and dust proof | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Design | Single-tone fabrics | Athleisure-inspired two-tone fabrics |
| Size | 102 mm x 93.5 mm 425 g | 104 mm x 95.3 mm 420 g |
| Port | MicroUSB | MicroUSB |
| Colors | Lilac Subzero Concrete Patches Avocado Unicorn Raspberry | Radical Red Deep Space Black Crushed Ice Grey Bermuda Blue |
More features and improved sound
The original Wonderboom was already great because of its small size, large sound, and affordable price. But the Wonderboom 2 is better in every way, including battery life and durability. These two features are very important if you plan to use the Wonderboom 2 outdoors.
The Wonderboom 2 features a battery that can last up to 13 hours, as opposed to the Wonderboom's 10. That's a big difference, especially if you're away from a power source. After all, the Wonderboom 2 is designed to be used outdoors, so chances are electricity won't be readily available.
Speaking of the outdoors, the Wonderboom 2 will survive the elements thanks to its IP67 rating, which means it's water and dustproof. The original Wonderboom, by contrast, isn't dust resistant, so taking it to the beach is a dangerous proposition. It's an important difference, because it means you'll have greater peace of mind knowing the Wonderboom 2 won't be defeated by the elements.
The Wonderboom 2 also features richer sound, thanks to an Outdoor Boost mode. According to Ultimate Ears, Outdoor Boost specially tunes the speaker for outside listening, providing bigger bass, louder audio, and a 360-degree sound. The original Wonderboom has no such boost mode, so its sound doesn't fill spaces as well.
Bottom line
The Wonderboom 2 features several key upgrades over the original model, while still offering a compact design at an affordable price.
Importantly, the Wonderboom 2 features 30 percent better battery and water and dust resistance. The speaker can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes and still come out unscathed. I'd say Ultimate Ears has learned some survival skills.
While you're enjoying the great outdoors this summer, the Wonderboom 2 will fill adventures with your favorite music.
However, if you absolutely need an Ultimate Ears speaker and need to save some money, the Wonderboom isn't a bad option. It's just not the best you can do.
Better in every way
The Wonderboom 2 features improved battery life, a more thoughtful design, and richer sound. It's also IP67 rated, so it'll survive a few splashes while you're hanging out by the river.
Doesn't live up to the Wonderboom 2
The original Wonderboom introduced big sound in a tiny package. Unfortunately, the original has inferior battery life, a stiffer design, and isn't dust proof.