I used to always use Logitech keyboards and mice back in the day; their products were all pretty good.
But ever since I switched to Apple, I haven’t used any Logitech gear…
Logitech had been relatively low-key in the audio field, having previously only released some multimedia speakers,
until they acquired UE, a small company specializing in audiophile earphones, in 2008~~~
Since then, this super low-profile brand, UE, has gradually come into the public eye~~~

UE has always had a strong reputation in the balanced armature earphone sector, essentially representing the pinnacle of technology in this field.
Like SHURE, they started out making hearing aids before moving on to balanced armature earphones.
UE primarily focuses on high-end earphones, offering custom-molded earpieces tailored to individual ear canals.
The UE18, considered the ultimate among custom earphones, costs nearly 10,000 RMB.

UE previously focused exclusively on the professional monitoring and high-end custom markets. After being acquired by Logitech,
with significantly stronger funding and market reach than before, they have gradually begun releasing a number of consumer products.
There is the world’s first UE flagship store on the 6th floor of Grand Gateway Shanghai, where many products are available for testing,
and Apple Stores also carry a variety of Bluetooth wireless speakers you can try out.

This time, I’m introducing the UE BOOM Bluetooth wireless speaker.
This category is a recently emerging market, but it’s growing very fast, with every manufacturer trying to get a piece of the action.
Actually, I didn’t originally have a need for one. Back when I went with my classmate ET to buy a wireless speaker,
we listened to them one by one at the Apple Store and ultimately chose the UE BOOM…
(Of course, we were heavily influenced by the noisy environment at the store; the BOOM definitely had the highest volume.)

First, the appearance:
It’s basically a cylinder, with a waterproof and stain-resistant outer shell.

Huge volume buttons; pressing both buttons simultaneously triggers a voice prompt announcing the remaining battery level.

There are six color options in total, but I’ve heard that the white rubber gets dirty easily.

On the top: power switch, power indicator light, Bluetooth button, and Bluetooth indicator light.

On the bottom: 3.5mm audio input, USB charging port, and a hook.
You can remove the hook and replace it with a waterproof port cover. This cover needs to be requested online after purchase, and it will be mailed to you.

A youthful, bright yellow charger and data cable.

Now let’s talk about its features:

• 360-degree sound: Based on teardowns, there is a 1.5-inch speaker on each side of the upper section, and a 2-inch passive radiator on each side of the lower section, essentially ensuring that the sound is omnidirectional.
• Supports Bluetooth and NFC: Bluetooth can remember up to 8 devices and will automatically connect to the last remembered device. It can connect to two devices simultaneously, though playback priority is basically first-come, first-served~~
• IPX4 splash-proof rating: This rating means it can withstand water splashing from any direction at normal pressure. In other words, you can place it next to a pool while swimming, etc. Combined with its stain resistance, it’s perfect for use at the beach.
• Built-in microphone for phone calls: This is incredibly practical! At home, you don’t need to hold your phone to make calls anymore—completely hands-free~~~
• Double Sound: You can connect two UE BOOMs to a single device simultaneously to create stereo sound, or simply double the volume.
• 15-hour battery life: Based on actual usage, since the volume is really loud, I usually keep it at 2-3 bars, so the battery life can far exceed 15 hours…
• Multiple EQ modes: Outdoor mode offers open and loud sound, suitable for outdoor and open environments; Private mode is noticeably softer, ideal for indoor use; Speech mode is optimized for phone calls, movies, and comedy routines.
• iOS app: Although fairly basic, it allows you to change the device name, adjust the voice prompt language, check battery level, select EQ modes, and control Double Sound.
• MicroUSB charging port: This is very user-friendly. When traveling, you can completely share a single charger and cable with your other devices.

Comparison with Bose SoundLink Mini:
These two products are the closest in price on the market, both around $200,
so many people might find themselves comparing the two…
In terms of sound, the SoundLink Mini actually has noticeably better audio quality than the UE BOOM, but its volume simply can’t compare.
However, from a practicality standpoint… the SoundLink Mini is a rather oddly positioned product.

First, it has directional sound and isn’t waterproof, meaning it can only really be used indoors on a desk.
Second, its battery lasts only 7 hours, and it uses a proprietary charging connector. That means if you want to take it traveling, you have to bring an extra charger.
Moreover, if you lose or break the original charger, you can only buy a new one from Bose, whereas the UE BOOM works with any USB charger…
Its battery level is indicated by a single LED light with only three states: red for 70%+, orange for 20%-70%, and red for less than 20%.
Compared to the UE BOOM, which announces the exact percentage via voice prompt… the difference is quite significant…
Additionally, it lacks a built-in microphone, so you can’t use it for phone calls. All in all, it’s essentially just a mini desktop speaker.
But if you don’t mind wires and don’t need portability, who would spend this much money on it? Even Bose’s own MusicMonitor would be a better choice…

Finally, here are a few official photos:
As you can see, the UE BOOM is marketed more towards young people for parties, outings, etc.~~~
In actual use, it’s definitely worth bringing along on trips~~~ The sound quality beats many of the dock speakers provided in hotels.
Since I already have desktop speakers at home, I mostly just use it for phone calls now~~~

Except for the official images, all photos above were taken with a Canon 50D + 50mm f/1.4 and post-processed in Lightroom.

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Logitech, Speaker