Short answer: the XB23, and it’s much cheaper. It ranks #67 of 142 medium speakers at $100; the Sound Joy ranks #38 at $180, $80 more, though it does rank higher.
Wait, the ranking favors the pricier Huawei here. The Sound Joy ranks #38 against the XB23’s #67, even though our notes call the Sound Joy very expensive with boosted treble and bass that doesn’t reach as deep as a [JBL Charge 5](/portable/speakers/JBL-Charge-5/). It needs Devialet mode and a +6dB EQ tweak to sound its best.
The XB23 is described as reasonably neutral, with IP67 rating and a strap hook for backpacks, though bass drops off a ton at high volume and it reduces its own volume over time at max.
Buy the Sound Joy for the higher ranking if you’re willing to pay for it and apply the recommended EQ. Buy the XB23 for a much cheaper, reasonably neutral alternative.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Huawei Sound Joy is rated for 26 hours, the Sony XB23 only 12 hours.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Huawei Sound Joy at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Sony XB23, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Huawei Sound Joy | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $180 | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #38 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #67 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 microphones) | Yes |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| EQ | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 30W total (20W + 10W) | 8W RMS |
| Drivers | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Huawei Sound Joy:
- Earfun Uboom L vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- Minirig 4 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Huawei Sound Joy
- JBL Charge 6 vs Huawei Sound Joy
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Huawei Sound Joy: $180 Aliexpress eBay
Pros: Use Devialet and +6db EQ for best sound quality. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted treble, not quite as deep of bass as a Charge 5. Very expensive
Full Huawei Sound Joy review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W total (20W + 10W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2.9" (202 x 73 mm) (height x width) |
| Drivers | 1x 50x75mm racetrack woofer (20W) + 1x 19mm silk dome tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (with G-sensor orientation switching) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/2A, 9V/2A, 10V/4A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Huawei Sound Joy vs JBL Pulse 5
- Huawei Sound Joy vs W-King D320
- Huawei Sound Joy vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- See all 53 comparisons
Sony XB23: $100 Discontinued eBay
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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 |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei Sound Joy vs Sony xb23 - worse or worser? 🤭
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE200 Review And Compared to Sony XB23 - It Got The XE300 Treatment More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons