Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 is the better pick: it ranks #72 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.4/5), against #84 (rated 3.3/5) for the Sony XB23. If you want one new, the Sony ULT Field 1 replaces the Sony XB23 and is rated 3.1/5 at $138.
The Bose Soundlink Mini 2 is the deeper-bass option. Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8. Its bass reaches about 58Hz before falling 10dB, against 67Hz for the Sony XB23. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony XB23 lacks. The tradeoff: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
The Sony XB23 is the tougher choice. Reasonably neutral. It is rated IPX4, while the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 has no water resistance. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 lacks. The catch: Bass drops off a ton at high levels.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Sony ULT Field 1, which replaces the Sony XB23.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini 2 | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $184.00 Discontinued | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #72 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #84 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 33mm fullrange | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro-USB or charging cradle | USB-C |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 8W RMS |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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
Bose Soundlink Mini 2: $184.00 Discontinued Amazon $184.00 eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Mini (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5). See every Bose SoundLink Mini generation.
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. ~10 hour battery life; can pair to two devices at once and remembers up to 8. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass is 2db less boosted than the Bose Soundlink Mini. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 33mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro-USB or charging cradle |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Soundcore 3
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
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- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Sony XB33
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- See all 96 comparisons
Sony XB23: $100 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 1, ranked lower, rated 3.1/5, released Apr 2024.
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB20 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB21 (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei Sound Joy vs Sony xb23 - worse or worser? 🤭 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE200 Review And Compared to Sony XB23 - It Got The XE300 Treatment More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons