The Sony SRS-XB100 is one of the manufacturer's smallest offerings in the speaker space. This portable Bluetooth speaker, with a built-in strap that attaches easily to your bag or backpack, is designed to take your favorite tunes with you on the go. It's available in a few different colors, each with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it from the elements. You can even pair it with a second unit for stereo sound.
Our Verdict
The Sony XB100 is acceptable for music. This small speaker can't bring a deep and rumbling bass to shake the floor with bass-heavy music, but it's a fair choice for more casual listening. Voices and lead instruments are clearly reproduced, so it's suitable for many different genres. You won't find any sound customization features, though.
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Clear reproduction of voices.
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Stereo pair available with second unit.
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No sound customization tools.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Sony XB100 isn't designed for watching movies. Still, if you want to check out a video on a paired smartphone, it can get the job done. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand, which is great. Latency is also low on both iOS and Android devices, so AV synchronization error is minimal, and you won't notice many lip-synch issues between the audio and video when watching video content. Some apps compensate for this differently, though.
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Clear reproduction of voices.
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Stereo pair available with second unit.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
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No sound customization tools.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Sony XB100 is decent for podcasts. Since dialogue is reproduced accurately, it's easy to follow along with the conversation in your favorite shows. This portable device is also great for listening on the go, so you can move around while listening to longer episodes. It gets loud enough for average-sized rooms, though it can't fill up larger spaces, given its small size.
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Small and lightweight design.
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Clear reproduction of voices.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
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No sound customization tools.
The Sony XB100 doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. However, you can pair it to a smartphone with Siri or Google Assistant capabilities to use these features through these third-party devices. It struggles to pick up on your commands from further away, but as long as you're close to the speaker, it can make out your voice.
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Clear reproduction of voices.
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No built-in voice assistant.
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Struggles to hear you from further away.
The Sony XB100 is fair for outdoor use. This speaker is great for those who want a really small and lightweight device that'll fit right in the palm of your hand. The built-in carrying strap lets you attach the speaker to a bag or backpack; you can even remove this if you like. Plus, the speaker is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and floats in water, so you don't have to be too nervous around the elements. That said, since it isn't very big, it doesn't get loud enough to fill up your backyard with sound like some other speakers, and it's missing a bit of low-bass in the mix.
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IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
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Small and lightweight design.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
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Some compression at max volume.
- 6.2 Music
- 5.7 Videos/Movies
- 7.2 Podcasts
- 4.9 Voice Assistant
- 6.9 Outdoors
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Updated Nov 15, 2024:
We mentioned the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go in the Frequency Response Accuracy section of this review.
- Updated Feb 09, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date and have added some relevant comparisons to similar speakers.
- Updated Sep 12, 2023: Added market comparison for the Bushnell Wingman Mini in the App box.
- Updated Jul 05, 2023: Review published.
- Updated Jun 29, 2023: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 27, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 01, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 17, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XB100 is available in many colors, including Black, Blue, Light Gray, and Orange. We tested the Black variant but expect the other colors to perform similarly. You can even see the label for our model here.
If you come across another version of this speaker, let us know in the forums so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Sony XB100 is the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB13. Like its predecessor, it's a small, compact speaker designed for on-the-go use, but it can't get as loud as other models in the SRS-XB line, like the Sony SRS-XB33 and Sony SRS-XB43. However, it offers an improved battery performance and a companion app to control some of its features from your smartphone. You won't find more premium sound enhancement features, though; its sound quality is limited due to its small design.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.
The Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Go 4 are both very portable speakers with IP67 ratings, but otherwise, they have different strengths. The Sony has nearly three times the battery life of the JBL and a better low-end extension. It also has better directivity and a voice assistant, even if the support is rather basic. That said, the JBL's shape fits easier into pockets and has a more useful app that includes an EQ. However, the battery life can't compete with the Sony.
The Sony SRS-XB13 and the Sony SRS-XB100 are very similar speakers with slight differences that might affect your preference between the two. They're both very portable, lightweight speakers, but the SRS-XB100 has a longer continuous battery life and slightly better low-frequency extension. It's also a bit better built and is compatible with the Sony Music Center app. That said, the SRS-XB13 has less compression at max volume and lower AV synchronization error. The latter will ensure that there's minimal lag between your audio and video if you like connecting to the speaker to watch YouTube videos or other video content.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is a better speaker for most uses than the JBL Clip 4. While both speakers are very portable and similarly well-built, the Sony has a more balanced sound with less compression present at max volume. It also has a significantly longer battery life and is compatible with a companion app. The JBL has lower AV synchronization error though, so it's a better choice for watching movies or video content in general.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is better than the JBL Go 3. They're both small portable Bluetooth speakers, but the Sony performs better. Its low-frequency extension is better, so you get more bass in the mix. Its battery life is better, too, and its companion app makes it easier to control through your paired smartphone. Plus, with a 360-degree design, the Sony has a better soundstage than the JBL.
The Anker Soundcore 3 and the Sony SRS-XB100 are portable Bluetooth speakers that address slightly different needs. The Sony is designed with portability in mind, so it's smaller and more lightweight. It has a built-in strap, too, so it's easier to bring along with you. Plus, its battery life lasts longer. However, the Anker offers more sound customization tools, including a graphic EQ in its companion app. It offers stereo sound, too.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a more premium speaker that's better than the Sony SRS-XB100. The SRS-XB23 is a little bigger but offers a better sound overall. It can playback stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and its companion app brings more customization tools to the table, like a graphic EQ. You may prefer the SRS-XB100 if you want a smaller, more portable speaker, especially since it has better battery performance.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB12. It offers an improved performance, with a longer battery life and a better low-frequency extension for bass reproduction. With a companion app available, the SRS-XB100 is also easier to control through your smartphone.
The Sony SRS-XB100 and the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 are both portable speakers designed for on-the-go use. However, the Ultimate Ears model has the edge over the Sony for most uses. While the two have a similarly balanced sound profile (though both struggle to reproduce low bass), the Ultimate Ears speaker can get louder and has better directivity, so audio sounds consistent from different angles around the speaker. The Ultimate Ears also has a better build quality and features multi-device pairing. That said, the Sony has voice assistant compatibility, although this isn't built-in, so you'll need to use a device that features a voice assistant. The Sony also has companion app compatibility, so you can view your connected devices and power the speaker down from your phone.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is better for music than the Bushnell Wingman Mini. They're both small and portable Bluetooth speakers, but the Sony's sound quality is better, and it offers a better low-frequency extension for more rumble in the low-bass. Plus, its 360-degree design offers a better soundstage. Its battery life lasts longer, and the speaker supports voice assistants through a paired smartphone. However, the Bushnell speaker's golf-centric companion app may be more suitable for those who want to listen to music while they golf.
Test Results
The Sony XB100 is a small, lightweight speaker with a similar design to the Sony SRS-XB13, the previous generation of this speaker. It's meant to sit vertically, with the driver situated on top, and you can hang it in this position from your bag using the built-in strap. The strap is detachable, too.
This speaker is small enough to fit in your hand. It's lightweight, too, so it's portable. Since it's battery-powered, you don't have to worry about plugging it into a power outlet to listen to your music.
The Sony XB100 has great build quality. It has a sturdy feel and a smooth finish, and the metal grille on top protects the drivers inside. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and you can submerse it in water, too. The tight seal on the AUX and USB ports helps to protect them from the elements. This speaker even floats, though it tends to tilt onto its side in the water. You'll find it useful if you drop it into the lake on accident, for example, but it probably isn't the best choice for listening to music at a pool party.
The controls are on the side of the speaker. They're painted white, so they're easy to identify. They're easy to use, too, and there's some feedback to help you keep track of the speaker's settings. For example, you can hear an audio chime when you power the device on and off, and small lights appear when it's turned on and connected to a Bluetooth device, its stereo is paired to another speaker, and the battery is charging.
There's a power button and a Bluetooth button that you can press to enter pairing mode, or you can hold it down to stereo pair with another unit. There's also a play/pause button that you can use to answer or end a call. You can press it twice to skip a track or three times to return to the previous track. Finally, you can use the volume buttons to adjust the volume.
This speaker's frequency response accuracy is acceptable. It's a small device, limiting its ability to bring a deep and rumbling low bass. Still, it does a good job with most music genres, as its balanced mids ensure that voices and other instruments are clear and accurate in the mix. The extra emphasis in the mid-to-high bass adds a boomy quality to the mix. Despite having a companion app, its sound isn't customizable, which is disappointing. The Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go has a less boomy sound, which you might prefer, and you can also customize its sound using its companion app.
The soundstage is decent. This speaker has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it, so you don't notice a separation between the left and right channels in stereo music. That said, thanks to its 360-degree design, its soundstage has great directivity, so you can place the device in the center of the table and get consistent sound all around.
This speaker's loud enough for use in an average-sized room. It won't fill up larger, more open spaces like a backyard, which is expected from such a small device. There's some compression when you push it to max volume, though, so you'll notice some compression artifacts.
The speaker's battery performance is excellent. The manufacturer advertises it to last around 16 hours, and in our tests, it did even better than that, with a total battery life of over 20 hours. However, battery life will vary based on usage, and playing audio at maximum volume will deplete the battery life quicker than at a lower volume. The speaker shuts down after 15 minutes without an audio signal, too, which is handy if you want to save its power. You can also disable this feature by holding the play/pause and volume down buttons simultaneously for five seconds.
You won't find a built-in voice assistant with this speaker. That said, if you pair it to a smartphone with Google Assistant or Siri capabilities, it can use the technology through your phone. It's not great at hearing you from far away or in a noisy environment, but it can still pick up on your commands with the microphone positioned toward you.
Unlike the Sony SRS-XB12, this speaker is compatible with the Sony Music Center app, making it easy to manage the device from your smartphone. You won't find more premium sound customization tools, but still, the app lets you perform some basic functions like turning the device on and off, checking the battery level and adding apps like Spotify and Netflix. You can see a video of the app here. You'll notice that the app doesn't let you stereo pair with another unit, but you can still access this feature using the Bluetooth button on the speaker itself. If you like to golf and want a small speaker designed with this use in mind, check out the Bushnell Wingman Mini. Its app offers golf-focused features.
This portable Bluetooth speaker pairs with only one device at a time. It'll stay connected, though, even if your device moves further away. Bluetooth latency on both Android and iOS devices is also quite low, so there's not much AV synchronization error. While some apps compensate for this differently, you won't notice much delay with dialogue-heavy videos on platforms like YouTube.