Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II. It ranks #52 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.6/5) at $299 and is still sold new; the Sony XB23 ranks #84 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony XB23’s replacement, the Sony ULT Field 1, is rated 3.1/5 at $138.
The Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. True 360° sound stays consistent no matter where you stand around it, unlike most portable speakers. It is rated for 17 hours of battery against 12 for the Sony XB23. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony XB23 lacks. The catch: Overly boosted bass, warm sounding.
The Sony XB23 is the lighter choice. Reasonably neutral. At 1.3 lbs (580 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II at 2 lbs (910 g). It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II lacks. Watch for: Bass drops off a ton at high levels.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sony XB23 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #52 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #84 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IPX4 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs (0.91 kg) | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| App | Bose Connect | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | No | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| Drivers | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer + 2x passive radiators (driver size undisclosed by Bose) | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 67Hz |
| 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 Revolve+ II: $299.00 Amazon $299.00 eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Revolve+ (ranked lower, rated 3.6/5). See every Bose SoundLink Revolve generation.
Same family: the Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II) (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: True 360° sound stays consistent no matter where you stand around it, unlike most portable speakers.
Cons: Overly boosted bass, warm sounding. Boosted mids. Rolled off treble. Only IP55.
Full Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Bose Connect |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 6” x 3.2” (82 x 152 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x omnidirectional full-range transducer + 2x passive radiators (driver size undisclosed by Bose) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2 lbs (0.91 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Glow: best budget 360 degree speaker or get the Bose Revolve+? 1 hour of fun! More from alanrossreviews →
- Danny Pops: BEST Bose Speaker? Bose is getting lazy. More from DannyPops →
- Kanwar Anand: Bose Revolve Plus 1 vs 2
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs W-King D320
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Soundcore Glow
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Bose SoundLink Revolve (Series II)
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs JBL Pulse 5
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs JBL Cove P1
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- See all 93 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