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Ultimate Ears Unveils UE Boom 2 Wireless Speaker

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Ultimate Ears is giving its popular Boom wireless speaker an upgrade.

The company on Tuesday introduced the UE Boom 2, which is 25 percent louder than its predecessor with a longer wireless range of 100 feet. The second-generation Boom also offers some fresh new color combinations with fun names like Cherrybomb (red and pink), Yeti (white), Phantom (black and gray), GreenMachine (green and blue), Tropical (purple and orange), and BrainFreeze (dark and medium blue).

Like other UE speakers, you won't have to worry about taking the Boom 2 on all your outdoor adventures—it has a waterproof rating of IPX 7 and is drop-proof from up to 5 feet. It's about the size of a water bottle, so you can slip it into your bike's drink holder or clip it to your bag.

The Boom 2 is expected to launch in the U.S. and in select countries in Europe and Asia this month for $199.99.

It has a 15-hour battery life, plus new tap controls that let you skip songs on the speaker when you don't have your phone in-hand. Using the app for iOS or Android, you can pair your Boom 2 with any other UE speaker to double the sound, remotely turn the device on from your phone, and even wake up to your favorite jams.

"Music is about making good moments great moments," UE General Manager Rory Dooley said in a statement. "And by taking your music with you, those great moments are now shareable, anywhere. That's why every speaker Ultimate Ears designs is durable and adventure-proof with 360-degree sound, including UE Boom 2."

The original UE Boom received an "excellent" rating of 4-out-of-5 stars in PCMag's review, earning props for its "solid soundscape" and "powerful, clear midrange and treble."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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