Short answer: pick on ruggedness, because the sound notes are a wash. The Sony ULT Field 3 is IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant, the clear reason to choose it outdoors. The Bose Soundlink Mini counters with a compact aluminum build that feels sturdy and dense, though its upper bass is boosted.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 3 if you want one new; the Bose Soundlink Mini is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Water resistance is not close: the Sony ULT Field 3 is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the Bose Soundlink Mini at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Sony ULT Field 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 Discontinued | $208.00 |
| Ranked | #64 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #65 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2” x 2.3” (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 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 |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 27W |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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. 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 →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Sony XB33
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Turtlebox Ranger
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs Beats Pill 2024
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs JBL Flip 5
- Bose Soundlink Mini vs JBL Charge 4
- See all 76 comparisons
Sony ULT Field 3: $208.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony XB33 (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5), the Sony SRS-XE300 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB30 (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together: turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Full Sony ULT Field 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| 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 | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Sony XB33
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Beats Pill 2024
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Huawei Sound Joy 2
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Turtlebox Ranger
- See all 138 comparisons