UE Boom 2 vs JBL Charge 2: Which Is The Better Speaker?

Weighing the JBL Charge 2 vs. UE Boom 2 is a tough job because they are both really great Bluetooth speakers and trying to compare the two gets a bit difficult. However, we were able to look at both the Ultimate Ears Boom (UE Boom) and the JBL Charge to see which would win our Bluetooth speaker reviews.
As big fans of music, podcasts, Chromecast, and more, we were able to compare them in many different situations.

This guide will show you when to buy one and when to buy the other.

1. UE Boom 2 Review

● Great For Listening To Music Outside
● Great Value For The Price
● Some Cool Design Options
● 12-15 Hours Battery Life

• Overall Review

This is a great speaker overall, even if it is starting to show its age somewhat. It is a great option for people who want to take a speaker into the pool or the shower. The build quality not only makes it easy to hold when it is wet, but you can actually get a better grip when it is wet.

One thing that really stands out about this speaker is that it rarely, if ever, loses its connection with the device you are streaming from, so you won’t hear skips or stops in your songs. You can get about 60 feet away and the sound quality is still great.

Speaking of sound quality, while audiophiles aren’t going to love every aspect of this speaker, it gets passing remarks until it hits about 90% volume.

The best thing is that the app shows you a smaller cartoon version of your speaker and lets you control it using that cartoon. You can raise or lower the volume, control the songs, and even power the speaker on and off. This is great because you will be able to skip songs you may not want to play in public.

Using that same app, you will be able to monitor the battery life (which is an actual lifesaver), pair another speaker so that you can double the sound, turn alarms on and off, and customize your sound settings.

Finally, this speaker seems to hold up. Many people have had it for years and say that it still sounds and looks as good as it did when they opened it. This is sometimes hard to find with speakers, as they are known for peeling and scratching.

2. JBL Charge 2 Review

● Audio Quality Works Well With Multiple Music Genres
● Can Pair With Up To Three Different Bluetooth Devices At The Same Time
● Splash-Proof With An Outdoor-friendly Design.
● There is Some Distortion To The Tracks
● 12 Hour Battery Life

• Overall Review

The JBL Charge 2 is a great speaker that delivers some serious bass and robust audio. It is the perfect speaker for those who listen to many different genres of music, but there are some issues with the bass when you try to play it at the highest levels.

You can tell that JBL took time with their design, as it comes in a variety of styles. This speaker is on the larger side for a Bluetooth speaker, but it is splash-proof (but not waterproof). The stand is rubberized to support its size and keeps it from rolling or moving when the music is playing.

The buttons are laid out in an intuitive design. You won’t have any trouble navigating, except if you are trying to move backward, which requires a few tries to get it right.

One of the best features of this speaker is “Social Mode” which allows you to connect up to three different devices simultaneously. Once they are connected, you will be able to spread the speakers pretty far apart so that you can get more surround sound. It is great for watching movies or having a pool party.

While the battery life of this speaker isn’t too long (about 12 hours), it can be used to charge mobile devices, which is a great option for those always on the go.

When it comes to sound quality, this is a pretty good option. If you have a lot of powerful bass content in your music, it will be a bit distorted, but any other music is great. You will be able to listen to everything from rap and pop to classical and even musical theater at great levels.

The JBL Charge 2 is older, but those who have it say that it has stayed consistent with its sound quality. You don’t get any muffling over time unless it is exposed to too much water.

UE Boom 2 vs JBL Charge 2: Which Is The Better Speaker?

The main difference between UE Boom 2 and JBL Charge 2 is, UE Boom 2 has up to 15 hours of battery life and a more even sound, while JBL Charge 2 has a bit more personality.

These two speakers seem pretty great on their own, but what about when you compare them: which one is going to come out the winner? It gets a bit complicated:

– Design Features

Each of these speakers looks unique and interesting. The UE Boom 2 and the JBL Charge 2 are both gorgeous speakers, but they will certainly appeal to two different audiences. The UE Boom 2 is a bit more minimalist and simple, making it perfect for those who need speakers in their offices or homes. The Charge 2 is a bit more colorful and exciting, making it great for dorm rooms or parties.

Both of the speakers come in a few different colors, with the UE Boom 2 coming in ten colors. No matter what color you like, you will be able to find one.

The UE 2 has two large buttons that are easy to find and control. There are also smaller power buttons, Bluetooth pairing buttons, and some other programming buttons. The buttons are labeled and easy to identify.

While the JBL Charge 2 isn’t quite as simplistic as the UE, but it is still pretty clean. This speaker has battery indicator lights and a few more buttons. However, they aren’t

labeled. Both of these speakers are water resistant, but the UE Boom 2 is waterproof and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

• Winner: Tie

– Battery Life

Battery life is important for a portable speaker. The UE Boom 2 has up to 15 hours of battery life while the JBL Charge 2 offers about 12 hours. However, these times significantly vary depending on how loud you have the volume, how often you switch songs, whether it is in the heat, and some other factors.

Another important thing to note is that the UE Boom 2 actually has a much shorter charge time than the JBL Charge 2, so you will not only get music that lasts longer, but you will be able to charge faster.

• Winner: UE Boom 2

– Sound Quality

The sound quality is another thing that isn’t easy to compare. It is important to consider what the speaker will sound like, but you need to know that every type of music sounds different.

The UE Boom 2 has many more features and customization options that the JBL Charge 2 just doesn’t offer. If you are an audiophile and you don’t mind fiddling with the settings, you will be able to get much, much better sound with the UE 2.

That isn’t to say that the JBL Charge 3 doesn’t have some great sound qualities as well. It may be better for those who will use their speaker to stream media or those who have a small group of people.

As far as volume goes, the JBL Charge 3 can actually get much louder. The sound does get quite distorted as it gets louder, however. The UE Boom 2 has a more even sound that only gets to be distorted at the very top levels of its volume.

This isn’t to say that either of these speakers is a bad option, it is just that one speaker is clearly the better choice.

• Winner: UE Boom 2

– Future Proofed?

Another thing to consider is whether or not these speakers can be used for a long time. As they are both a bit older by now, they may not have all of the newest technology. However, both of them seem to be good enough that they will keep up with the latest tech for a long time. However, the UE Boom 2 seems to be closer to its predecessors than the JBL Charge 2, which did get a major overall in the JBL Charge 3.

Conclusion: So Which One Is Best?

As you can guess, there is a pretty clear winner in this competition, though both speakers are quite good. While the JBL Charge 2 offers some nice features, and it certainly has some interesting colors, it just doesn’t live up to the quality of the UE Boom 2.

However, both of these speakers are worth buying and if you are looking for a speaker that has a bit more personality, you may prefer the JBL Charge 2.