Surprise! Here’s the $150 UE Boom 3 Bluetooth Speaker

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, the UE Boom 2 from Logitech subsidiary Ultimate Ears tops many lists and has earned many recommendations. That speaker was starting to look a little long in the tooth — why fix it if it ain’t broke? — but now they’ve finally come forward with an official successor. Conveniently and appropriately enough, it’s called the UE Boom 3.

As you might imagine, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is the third generation in the series of Bluetooth speakers. From the outside, it bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor: it’s still a a colorful cylinder and, well, it’s still a Bluetooth speaker.

The UE Boom 3 will come in a variety of colors and is set to retail for $150. Compare that to the about $200 you’d spend to get the decidedly different BenQ treVolo S. We’re going for a totally different look and feel here. For perspective, you can still get the UE Boom 2 for as little as $120 or a certified refurbished model for just under $90.

With this newest version, you get a Bluetooth speaker that is fully waterproof (as showcased in the promo video embedded below). The design is more durable, with a new fabric wrap, and it’ll float in the pool so you don’t lose it when you take a dip. The plus and minus design on the front isn’t just for aesthetics; those are the actual volume controls.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlyLG-VJw-0]

On the top is one big button that they’re calling the Magic Button. This is for play/pause with a short press, as well as to access up to four playlists from Apple Music or Deezer with a long press. This could expand to other streaming services later on, but we’ll see. Much smaller buttons are provided for Bluetooth pairing and power. You can connect to two source devices at the same time too.

Rounding out the tech specs are optional wireless charging by way of a $40 charging dock, 150 foot range, up to 15 hour battery life, 360 degree sound via two 38mm full range drivers and two passive radiators, a maximum sound level of 90 dB, and IP67 rating to survive up to 1 meter of water fo up to 30 minutes. You can also link up to 150 (!) of these suckers together for party mode.

As mentioned, the UE Boom 3 will retail for $150. Choose from Night (black), Sunset (red), Lagoon (blue) or Ultraviolet (purple). Apple gets the exclusive on Denim (dark blue) and Cloud (light blue). Check the product page for more details. There’s also the $200 Megaboom 3 if you’re looking for a little more.