Short answer: the JBL Clip narrowly, unless you need aux in, though neither ranks well in its class. The Sony SRS-XB12 is muddy with not much bass and peaky treble, so its aux in is the main reason to pick it. The Clip is very compact and light at 5.3 oz with an integrated carabiner, though it too has quite a lack of bass. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 49 small speakers; for better sound, the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 ranks #1 at $49.99.
Buy the JBL Clip 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, start with the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 instead.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony SRS-XB12 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the JBL Clip, which has no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Clip | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $50 Discontinued | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #37 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (integrated 3.5mm cable) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~95Hz | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Wall Wart | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (158 g) | 0.5 lbs (243 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Amplifier Power | 7W RMS | 7W |
| Dimensions | 5.4” x 3.8” x 1.8” (137.2 x 96.5 x 45.7 mm) (Clip 3, original JBL Clip dimensions not available) | 2.9” x 3.6”H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Drivers | 1.57” (40mm) driver | 46mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | - | 4.5 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Clip:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs JBL Clip
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs JBL Clip
- Minirig Mini 2 vs JBL Clip
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs JBL Clip
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs JBL Clip
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
JBL Clip: $50 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Clip 5, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
Pros: Very compact and light (5.3 oz) with an integrated carabiner. Has its own built-in 3.5mm aux cable, so you don’t need to carry one separately. Measured bass extension of ~95Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Quite a lack of bass. Mids are a little hollow. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 7W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes (integrated 3.5mm cable) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~95Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.4” x 3.8” x 1.8” (137.2 x 96.5 x 45.7 mm) (Clip 3, original JBL Clip dimensions not available) |
| Drivers | 1.57” (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Wall Wart |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (158 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony SRS-XB100, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5.
Pros: Sony SRS-XB12 uses 46mm. Its 243 g, claimed 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, up to 93dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. A detachable strap hangs it from a bag or belt. Measured bass extension of 97Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 97Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Muddy, with little bass and peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 7W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.9” x 3.6”H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (243 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB13 vs XB12 - review and full sound test - best small speaker? 🙄 More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB12 vs Soundcore Mini 3 - size matters! bluetooth speakers test!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
- See all 28 comparisons