These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The ION Glowtive ranks #114 of 114 large speakers by sound quality at $59.99; the ION HydroGroove ranks #173 of 173 medium speakers by sound quality at $39.91. Both are rated below 3.0/5 for their class (114 large speakers and 173 medium speakers), so if sound quality matters, look higher up the rankings.
The case for the ION Glowtive: A lantern style speaker with candle flicker and color lighting modes, ten built in ambient sounds such as rain and ocean, and a top handle for hanging it at a campsite. It keeps a wired aux input, which the ION HydroGroove lacks. The catch: Its bass is nowhere near as deep as top ranked large speakers like the JBL Xtreme 5 and Tribit Stormbox Lava, which reach down to about 43 Hz and 44 Hz.
The ION HydroGroove is the tougher choice. A floating, IP67 waterproof and dustproof puck speaker for the pool, with top and bottom light rings and ten light modes. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the ION Glowtive. Watch for: Its bass is nowhere near as deep as top ranked speakers its size like the Soundcore Motion 300, which reaches down to about 50 Hz.
Buy the ION Glowtive at $59.99 if you want a large speaker. Buy the ION HydroGroove at $39.91 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A lantern style speaker with candle flicker and color lighting modes, ten built in ambient sounds such as rain and ocean, and a top handle for hanging it at a campsite.
Costco $59.99 eBay
A floating, IP67 waterproof and dustproof puck speaker for the pool, with top and bottom light rings and ten light modes.
Amazon $65.86 Sam’s Club $39.91 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 19, 2026 at 10:32 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
| ION Glowtive | ION HydroGroove | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $39.91 |
| Ranked | #114 of 114 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #173 of 173 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 3.5” driver + 2x 1” tweeter + 2 passive radiators | 1x 3.1” woofer + 3x 1” tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg) | 3 lbs (1.36 kg) |
| Dimensions | 5.6” x 12” x 5.6” (142 x 305 x 142 mm) | 9.1” x 2.9” x 9.1” (231 x 73 x 231 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Multi-Sync) | Yes (mono) |
| App | Yes (ION Sound Control) | Yes (ION Sound Control) |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ) | Yes (app 3-band EQ) |
| Stereo | Partially | No |
| Strap | No (built-in handle) | Yes (carabiner) |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | Yes (6 presets) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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