Why You Can Trust CNET Pre-Prime Day deal, today only: UE Wonderboom wireless speaker is just $50
Get deep discounts at Amazon on some of the best Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers on the market.
- Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
Yep, the Wonderboom is fully waterproof.
Bluetooth speakers have become totally commoditized, but if you want good sound quality and durability you need to still pay up. Except for today: Amazon is offering the awesome UE Wonderboom for just $50. This softball-sized Bluetooth speaker delivers great sound for its size, and it's not only waterproof -- it floats.
Normally $99, it's been widely discounted for the past few weeks for $60 to $65. But $50 is the lowest price we've seen -- though that discount is limited to the deep blue and midnight blue colors. Just don't get this one if you need an aux-in -- it's wireless only. Read the CNET review of the UE Wonderboom.
Prefer something with a bit more oomph? The Wonderboom's sibling speakers aren't a "deal of the day," but they've been nicely discounted in recent weeks, too.
The UE Boom 2.
UE Boom 2, $99 at Amazon ($80 off): For years, the UE Boom and its sequel, the Boom 2, have been our go-to choice for wireless speaker sound quality -- but that came at a premium $199 price (since reduced to $180). Now this waterproof wonder is up to $80 off in some color combinations. Read the CNET review of the UE Boom 2.
The Blast is basically the Boom 2, but with Alexa support.
UE Blast, $107 at Amazon ($73 off): The Blast is basically a Boom 2 that adds the Alexa voice assistant to the mix, with Wi-Fi capability in addition to standard Bluetooth. Yes, it only has a 3-star review on Amazon, but that's probably because many of those reviews hit before the recent firmware update that added voice control for Spotify to the mix.
This speaker was $230 when it first debuted last year, but has since been marked down to $180 -- but you can buy it now for just over $100. That's just $8 for Alexa compatibility (versus the Boom 2), whether you use it or not. Read the CNET review of the UE Blast.
For $30, you can't ask for better.
Oontz Angle 3 Plus for $30: OK, this isn't a UE speaker. But if you want to get a great-sounding, water-resistant model in the under-$30 range, you can't do better than this one. Read the CNET review of the Oontz Angle 3 Plus.
Originally published on June 25.
Update, July 12: Added new deals.
Prime Day 2018: The best deals so far -- and everything else you need to know