Beats Pill+ vs UE Megaboom… Beats by Dre products have been heavily promoted by artists and singers in their music videos. A fairly new company, having been established only in 2008, eventually, the brand has cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with, amassing a significant number of following. Yup, there was even a time when everyone wants to have a Beats.
But there are brands that came before Beats, with a proven track record. One of them is Logitech-owned brand called Ultimate Ears, a company that was founded in 1995.
Let’s compare two of these companies’ speakers – Pill+ from Beats by Dre and Megaboom by Ultimate Ears. Both have a similar design, and are ultra-portable Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Which one of these brands is for you? Find out more in this Beats Pill+ vs UE Megaboom report.
Also read: UE Boom 2 vs Megaboom, Which Bluetooth Speaker to Get?
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Comparison Chart
Let’s start this comparison report with a table highlighting the differences (and similarities) of these two brands of speakers.
Bluetooth Speaker | ||
Brand | Beats Pill+ | Megaboom |
Design | Pill (horizontal) | Water bottle (vertical) |
Bluetooth Wireless Range | 60+ ft. | 100 ft. |
Battery | Rechargeable Lithium-ion | Rechargeable Lithium-ion |
Battery Life | 12 hours | 20 hours |
Charge Time | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
Charge Out Feature | Yes | No |
LED Charge Indicator | Yes | No |
Type of Jack | lightning to USB-A charging cable | micro USB |
Weight | 1.28 pounds | 1.90 pounds |
Dimensions | 6.36 cm (height) x 21 cm (length) | 22.5 cm (height) x 8.4 cm (length) |
Water-Resistant Skin | No | IPX7-rated |
Speakerphone | Yes | Yes |
Compatibility | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV | Works with bluetooth-enabled smartphones, tablets, computers (iOS, Android, Windows) |
Maximum Sound Level | not provided | 90dBA |
Frequency Range | not provided | 65Hz – 20kHz |
Tripod Mount | No | Yes |
Connections and Expansion | 3.5 mm stereo jack | 3.5 mm stereo jack |
Other Features | Pair and Play, DJ Mode | Block Party, Double Up, Tap to Play |
Colors Available | White, black, asphalt gray, citrus red, turf green | Black, charcoal black, charcoal black/yellow, electric blue, galaxy, lava red, plum, purple and black |
Key Differences
From the chart we created above, it’s very clear that both brands of bluetooth speakers have a lot of differences, and in this section, we discuss the main ones one by one.
Design
Let’s start with the obvious. While both speakers have adopted a similar shape, one closer look reveals that the Pill+ resembles a pill, just like what its name entails. Normally, you would use it in the horizontal position.
On the other hand, Ultimate Ears prefers to describe the Megaboom as a “water bottle” speaker. You use it in the vertical position. Since it has a tripod mount, you can attach it to a tripod (or a gorillapod) to add some height.
Waterproof Skin
The Megaboom has this advantage over the Pill+. The former has a waterproof skin, which allows this speaker to be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The Pill+ doesn’t have this feature.
Also read: Bose Soundlink Revolve Plus vs UE Megaboom, Which is Better?
Battery Life and Recharging
Which one has a longer battery life? It’s UE’s Megaboom. As advertised, it lasts longer than the Pill+, with a battery life of up to 20 hours. In comparison, the Pill+ can last only up to 12 hours.
When it comes to recharging, it can take 3 hours before the Pill+ gets fully recharged from zero initial charge. On the other hand, Megaboom has a recharge time of 2.5 hours.
Still on the subject of recharging, the Pill+ has a charge-out feature, which allows you to connect your phone or device to the speaker if it runs out of battery. The Megaboom doesn’t have this feature.
Another difference is that the Pill+ has a charge indicator, which lets you know the battery level of your speaker. This feature is absent in the Megaboom.
When it comes to charging jacks, the Megaboom uses the mini USB type while the Pill+ uses the lightning to USB cable, making it really ideal for iPhone or Apple product users.
Other Features
Pill+’s DJ Mode and Megaboom’s Block Party features work the same way. Through any of these features, you can add multiple playlists from different devices.
UE’s Megaboom has a feature called Double Up or Party Up, which makes it possible for music to be streamed to multiple speakers at the same time.
Also read: JBL Charge 3 vs UE Megaboom, Battle of Bluetooth Speakers
Our Final Word: Beats Pill+ vs UE Megaboom
Which speaker do we recommend?
If you’re an Apple user, then the Beats Pill+ by Dre is the obvious choice. The charge-out feature is a plus. It’s truly useful especially because iPhones are notorious for running out of battery easily.
If you’re a non-Apple user, the better choice is UE’s Megaboom. It has a longer battery life, it’s waterproof, and it has more features than the Pill+.
Where to Buy Pill+ and Megaboom
Cheap Bluetooth Speakers
If the prices of the Pill+ and the Megaboom are too steep, consider these cheaper alternatives.