Short answer: the JBL Clip. It ranks #35 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $50; the Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 and costs $79, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the JBL Clip: Very compact and light (5.3 oz) with an integrated carabiner. The tradeoff: Quite a lack of bass.
What the Sony SRS-XB12 offers: Aux in. Watch for: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the JBL Clip. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB12 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB12. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB12 is rated for 16 hours versus 5 hours for the JBL Clip.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony SRS-XB12 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Clip at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Clip | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $50 Discontinued | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #35 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 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 | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs / 158 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Output 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 |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | - | 4.5 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Clip 4 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Muzen Wild Mini vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- JBL Clip 3 vs Sony SRS-XB12
- JBL Go 5 vs Sony SRS-XB12
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Clip: $50 Discontinued
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.
Cons: Quite a lack of bass. Mids are a little hollow. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes (integrated 3.5mm cable) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~95Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Wall Wart |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs / 158 g |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued
Pros: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt.
Cons: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- 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 Tribit PocketGo
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Go 3
- See all 12 comparisons