To pair ULTIMATE EARS BOOM 2 with your mobile device, press and hold the Bluetooth button until you hear the tone. Go to the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device and select ULTIMATE EARS BOOM 2 from the list. For NFC-enabled devices, hold your device directly against the ULTIMATE EARS BOOM 2, as shown, to pair and connect.
Chances are, if you're shopping for a Bluetooth speaker, you've probably heard of the original, or at least you should have. It's unmatched in style, offers powerful audio and battery performance – plus includes a ton of features thanks to its companion app.It was easily one of the best Bluetooth speakers when it came out. Until the UE Boom 2 came out a few years ago.If you missed out on the UE Boom 2 when it first came out, we wholeheartedly recommend you get to know it now. Beyond what's mentioned above it's a colorful waterproof Bluetooth speaker that's nearly unrivaled in value. It packs in slightly better sound than the original and introduces tap controls to UE's speaker lineup.On the other hand, the UE Boom 2 is getting a bit long in the tooth now.
![Boom 2 Lite Boom 2 Lite](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125650240/226129752.jpg)
If you want a slightly newer Bluetooth speaker that packs in the same great features – plus a voice assistant – check out the and, or even the. DesignThe UE Boom didn't need a design overhaul, and thankfully, UE recognized that. There are slight changes, which we'll dig into along the way, but check out our review of the original to get a good sense of its design ID and what makes it so special.Running across the unit that UE sent to TechRadar for review, we noticed a few welcome changes that deserve a mention. First off, the mesh fabric here looks less porous and feels more durable than what is wrapped around the original Boom.The controls of the UE Boom 2 are unchanged, and at that, still remarkably simple to use – even if you're using the speaker for the first time.
But, if you've got a sharp eye for detail you'll notice a few cosmetic adjustments around the unit. UE Boom (left) next to its successorFor a cleaner look, UE decided to omit the Bluetooth logo from the pairing button, and the power button looks a little different. Even with these changes, new users shouldn't have too much trouble at all figuring things out.On the bottom of the Boom 2, UE has touched up the port flaps, making them sit flush with the base. More importantly, they are easier to flip open and access because of this change. Just like the last model, the flap door can be removed entirely if you'd rather not mess with it each time you need to charge. Performance and featuresThe UE Boom 2 builds upon a strong foundation put forward by the last model, making noticeable strides in its 360-degree sound delivery, one of our biggest gripes about the first. Its room-filling capability frequently left us struck by how powerful this small, cylindrical speaker sounds.
The UE Boom 2 is dwarfed by the MegaboomJust like the last Boom, there's an impressive set of features inside the speaker, but you'll need the companion app to unlock them. The UE Boom app allows you to adjust the equalizer effect and Double Up, UE's way of linking two of its speakers together over Bluetooth to, you guessed it, double the sound. The app can also set alarms to wake you from sleep, but the older Boom can do that, too.As mentioned earlier, the UE Boom 2 has some new tricks up its sleeve. First off, the app for the new speaker supports Block Party, a feature that allows up to two people nearby to connect to it via Bluetooth and play a track.The best part? The Boom 2 owner has the power to boot either of the DJ wannabes if their suggestions stink.Next up are the tap controls. Through the app, you can activate them, which allows you to change the song by simply picking up the speaker and tapping it.
Just like the remote you find embedded in most headphone cables these days, the UE Boom 2 mimics this familiarized input.You can also tap twice to skip songs or three times to go backwards. This might seem like a superfluous addition, but this extra level of control was sorely missing from the original model.In addition to kicking out the jams, the UE Boom 2 also makes for a competent speakerphone. You can pick up and hang up calls by giving the Bluetooth pairing button a press. I found that this speaker can pick up multiple voices speaking at low to medium volumes without any trouble.The icing on the cake, and the feature that could tempt owners of the original the most, is the waterproofing. Improving over the IPX4 rating of the UE Boom, which couldn't safely handle more than a splash or two, the IPX7-equipped UE Boom 2 can be submerged in water up to a meter deep for 30 minutes before you run the risk of leakage. This also means that you can leave it out in the rain without the worry that you've just flushed 200 bucks down the drain.Final verdictOwners of the previous UE Boom may find themselves tossed about whether they should upgrade. It might help to think of this as a supplement, rather than a replacement, as you can pair up UE's latest with the original model.
![Boom 2 phantom lite Boom 2 phantom lite](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125650240/820373762.jpg)
Just make sure you remember which one is waterproof if you take them outside.The UE Boom 2 offers the same ease of use that we loved about the original, and improves both the audio profile and 360-degree soundstage effect. Battery life remains unchanged from the 15 hours that the original put forward, but it still meets, if not exceeds, the industry standard.And to think that the UE Boom 2 accomplishes all this while packing in more features, like tap control and waterproofing. If you're deep in the search for your next –, or first – Bluetooth speaker, you can stop looking now. You'll find the UE Boom 2 on our list of the.
The UE Boom 2 speaker isn't all that different from its predecessor, but it does get a little louder, ever so slightly bigger, and a lot more portable. This is where the UE Boom 2 and Megaboom shine over the 1. While the UE Boom 1 had an IPX4 water and dust-resistance rating, the 2 and Mega have an IPX7, which means they're all but waterproof and shock-proof. Like Tech Radar said, '.'
IPX7 means that the UE Boom 2 and Megaboom can be submerged into 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The 1 was only splash-proof, so the upgrade is stark and a massive boon for the 2 and Mega.Battery lifeWhile the battery life remains the same between the Boom 1 and 2, at 15 hours (depending on usage and environmental conditions), the UE Boom 2 massively improves on charge time.It takes almost 3.5 hours to charge the UE Boom 1, while the UE Boom 2 shaves off an entire hour, going from 0 to 100% in 2.5 hours.The Megaboom, being larger, has a larger battery and can last for up to 20 hours of playback.RangeJust how far away can you be from a UE Boom while it's playing? The UE Boom 1 boasts a 50-foot mobile range, which is rather impressive for Bluetooth.The UE Boom 2, on the other hand, doubles that range to 100 feet, meaning you'll have incredibly clear sound from really far away. Ditto for the Megaboom.To compare, the Bose Soundlink, one of the best Bluetooth speakers available, only has a range of 30 feet.PriceNow that the UE Boom 1 has been discontinued, you can still get it on Amazon, but the price has jumped from $120 up to $144 for the just the black model, and you can't get the other straight from Amazon or straight from UE anymore.The boom 2 comes in a bunch of different flavors and prices jump around, starting around and getting up around $150 for others.The Megaboom clocks in around $175. Where Megaboom rises above the othersWireless speaker systems are becoming more prevalent, so the ability to create stereo pairs is popping up all over the place, even with inexpensive speakers like those from Ultimate Ears.
The Megaboom has the ability to 'Double Up,' which lets you pair two Megabooms together. You can even activate Double Up Lock, which will make the two Megabooms pair up the next time you power them on together.The bottom lineAt this point, The UE Boom 1 shouldn't even be a consideration for you. The UE Boom 2 has come down to the point where it's the same price or less (in some cases) than its predecessor. If you're looking for something very portable, then the UE Boom 2 should be your decision.If you're looking to be able to pump things a bit louder without distortion, want to make a stereo pair, and don't mind a somewhat bulkier (though still very portable) speaker, then check out the Megaboom. Price-wise, it's really not that big of a jump.Updated June 2018: Updated to include the Megaboom and to note that the Boom 1 is discontinued.We may earn a commission for purchases using our links.