Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Bose Soundlink Mini is the better pick: it ranks #74 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.4/5), against #118 (rated 2.8/5) for the Sony SRS-XE300. If you want one new, the Sony ULT Field 3 replaces the Sony SRS-XE300 and is rated 3.4/5 at $208.
The Bose Soundlink Mini is the better-sounding, lighter pick. Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. At 1.5 lbs (680 g) it weighs much less than the Sony SRS-XE300 at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony SRS-XE300 lacks. The catch: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
The Sony SRS-XE300 is the longer-running, tougher choice. Orientation-aware playback switches to stereo when laid flat. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 7 for the Bose Soundlink Mini. It is rated IP67, while the Bose Soundlink Mini has no water resistance. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Mini lacks. The tradeoff: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Mini 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 3, which replaces the Sony SRS-XE300.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Sony SRS-XE300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $94.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #74 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #118 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 9.4” x 4.1” x 4.7” (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | USB-C |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 16W |
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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: $125.00 Discontinued Amazon $125.00 eBay
Newer model: the Bose Soundlink Mini 2, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Jul 2015 (also discontinued). It adds stereo pairing. Battery life goes from 7 to 10 hours. See every Bose SoundLink Mini generation.
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Released | Jul 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sony SRS-XE300: $94.99 Discontinued Amazon $94.99 eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Apr 2025. It adds power bank charging.
Older models: the Sony XB33 (ranked higher, rated 3.4/5), the Sony SRS-XB31 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB30 (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: IP67 rated. Orientation-aware playback switches to stereo when laid flat. Party Connect links up to 100 speakers; fast charging (10 min charge = ~70 min playback).
Cons: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass. Hollow sounding. Worse than a XB43. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XE300 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.4” x 4.1” x 4.7” (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DLX Willington: FINALLY! Sony SRS XG300, SRS XE300, & SRS XE200 Are Here. Binaural Sound Samples & First Impressions More from DLXWillington →
- Danny Pops: Sony XE200 XE300 vs Bose Marshall & JBL More from DannyPops →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 5 Vs Sony XE300 - How Can You Mess Up This Bad?
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE200 Review And Compared to Sony XB23 - It Got The XE300 Treatment
- New Stuff TV: Sony SRS-XE300 vs JBL Charge 5 More from NewStuffTV1 →
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