Short answer: the ION Sport Surge, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #103 of 114 large speakers by sound quality, rated 2.3/5, at $89; the ION Sport Orbix ranks #110, rated 2.1/5, and costs $129, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 114 large speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Tribit Stormbox Lava instead, ranked #3 at $119.99.
The ION Sport Surge is the longer-running choice. A true stereo boombox with two 3.5 inch drivers, two 1 inch tweeters and two passive radiators, rated for up to 20 hours of battery at half volume. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the ION Sport Orbix. It keeps a wired aux input, which the ION Sport Orbix lacks. The tradeoff: 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.
What the ION Sport Orbix does well: A round, IPX6 water resistant speaker with two 3 inch woofers and two passive radiators for stereo from one unit, plus a 360 degree LED light ring. 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.
Buy the ION Sport Surge. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ION Sport Orbix and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A true stereo boombox with two 3.5 inch drivers, two 1 inch tweeters and two passive radiators, rated for up to 20 hours of battery at half volume.
Walmart $89.00 eBay
A round, IPX6 water resistant speaker with two 3 inch woofers and two passive radiators for stereo from one unit, plus a 360 degree LED light ring.
Walmart $129.00 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 Sport Surge | ION Sport Orbix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 | $129.00 |
| Ranked | #103 of 114 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #110 of 114 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5” full-range + 2x 1” tweeter + 2 passive radiators | 2x 3” woofer + 2 passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 51W | 40W |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Weight | 5.4 lbs (2.47 kg) | 5.2 lbs (2.36 kg) |
| Dimensions | 14.7” x 7.9” x 6” (373 x 201 x 152 mm) | 11.4” x 4.9” x 4.7” (290 x 125 x 120 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes (2 units) | Yes (2 units) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No (built-in handle) | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
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