Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks #56 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $125; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Bose Soundlink Mini offers: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Watch for: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common.
What the Sony SRS-XB30 offers: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume). Watch for: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 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-XB30. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB30 is rated for 24 hours versus 10 hours for the Bose Soundlink Mini.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony SRS-XB30 at IPX5 (water jets) against the Bose Soundlink Mini, which has no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Sony SRS-XB30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $199 |
| Ranked | #56 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | Micro USB |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Output Power | - | 20W |
| Max Volume | - | 95dB |
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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
Bose Soundlink Mini: $125.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sony SRS-XB30: $199 eBay
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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