Short answer: the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks #13 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $30; the Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 and costs $79, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Anker Soundcore Mini offers: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap Watch for: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
What the Sony SRS-XB12 offers: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt. Watch for: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB12 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB12. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony SRS-XB12 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Anker Soundcore Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Anker Soundcore Mini | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Output Power | 5W | 7W |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | 46mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 97Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Sony SRS-XB12
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Anker Soundcore Mini: $30 Amazon eBay
Pros: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
Full Anker Soundcore Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt.
Cons: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB13 vs XB12 - review and full sound test - best small speaker? 🙄 More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB12 vs Soundcore Mini 3 - size matters! bluetooth speakers test!
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB12 Review
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- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB13
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