Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB100 for battery life; the Neo only if it must get wet, though neither ranks well in its class. The Sony’s long real-world battery life measured about 17 hours in testing, but it has not much bass. The Harman Kardon Neo is IPX7 waterproof and has a huge lack of bass, so neither is the bass pick. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 50 small speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 instead, ranked #1 at $49.99.
Buy the Sony SRS-XB100. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Harman Kardon Neo is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Battery life favors the Sony SRS-XB100: rated for 16 hours against 10 hours for the Harman Kardon Neo.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony SRS-XB100 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Harman Kardon Neo, which has no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB100 | Harman Kardon Neo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $63.00 | $90 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #36 of 50 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 50 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (274 g) | 0.6 lbs (251 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 46mm | 1.6” (41mm) full-range driver |
| Dimensions | 3” x 3.7” (76 x 95 mm) (diameter x height) | 4.3” x 4.3” x 1.3” (110 x 110 x 34.1 mm) |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 2.5W | 3W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 105Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 87dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Frequency Response | - | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony SRS-XB100:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Sony SRS-XB100 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
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 JBL Clip
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Boat Stone 190
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Hopestar H54
- See all 42 comparisons
Harman Kardon Neo: $90 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Harman Kardon Neo uses 1.6” (41mm) full-range driver. Its 251 g, claimed 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, up to 87dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. IPX7 waterproof, with an attachment loop and an echo-cancelling microphone for calls. Measured bass extension of 105Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 105Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Neo review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 3W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 105Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.3” x 4.3” x 1.3” (110 x 110 x 34.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.6” (41mm) full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 87dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (251 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Muzen Wild Mini
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Noxgear 39g
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Sony SRS-XB12
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL Clip 3
- See all 31 comparisons