Short answer: the JBL Go 3 for the lower price, the Sony SRS-XB100 for battery life. The Go 3 ranks #28 of 49 at $39.95, $23.05 less than the XB100, while the Sony lasts about 17 hours in testing. Both fall short on bass: the Go 3 is pocket-sized at 0.5 lbs (209 g) with not much bass and a strange mids peak, and the XB100 has not much bass either.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB100 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Sony SRS-XB100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $63.00 |
| Ranked | #28 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #35 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) | 0.6 lbs (274 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3” x 3.7” (76 x 95 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 2.5W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 46mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (detachable strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 3:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs JBL Go 3
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs JBL Go 3
- Minirig Mini 2 vs JBL Go 3
- JBL Go 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 3: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Go 5, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5.
Pros: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag. Measured bass extension of 87Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker? More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS XIAOMI PORTABLE OUTDOOR SPEAKER "BEST COMPACT SPEAKERS!?" More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: HOPESTAR H54 VS JBL GO 3 "SIMILAR DESIGN BUT SOUND IS DIFFERENT?!’’
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL GO 3 - best bluetooth micro speaker❗❗❗
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS ORTIZAN X10
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB100: $63.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB13 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB12 (ranked lower, rated 2.5/5).
Pros: Long real-world battery life (~17 hours in testing). IP67 rated and pocketable at 267g, with a clip for bags/gear. Can stereo-pair two units.
Cons: Not much bass. Seems pretty much the same as the XB13, maybe a teeny bit deeper bass and a little less muddy.
Full Sony SRS-XB100 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 2.5W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3” x 3.7” (76 x 95 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (274 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- CEONTHEMAKING: BATTLE Of The Compact Speakers Sony SRS-XB100 VS JBL Clip 4! More from CEONTHEMAKING →
- Flossy Carter: Sony SRS-XB100 - Small Speaker, Huge Sound More from FlossyCarter →
- Danny Pops: Agreeable Gray? - The Sony XB100 is almost the same as the XB13 More from DannyPops →
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100 More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Boat Stone 190/193
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs JBL Clip
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Onn Small Rugged Speaker
- See all 42 comparisons