Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Huawei Sound Joy is the better pick: it ranks #40 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.8/5), against #82 (rated 3.3/5) for the Sony XB23. If you want one new, the Huawei Sound Joy 2 replaces the Huawei Sound Joy and is rated 3.5/5 at $154.73.
Wait, the ranking favors the pricier Huawei here. The Sound Joy ranks #40 against the XB23’s #82, 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. 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 Huawei Sound Joy 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 Huawei Sound Joy 2, which replaces the Huawei Sound Joy.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Huawei Sound Joy is rated for 26 hours, the Sony XB23 only 12 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Huawei Sound Joy | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $180 Discontinued | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #40 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #82 of 179 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | IP67 |
| 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) |
| Strap | - | Yes (detachable strap) |
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