Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 3. It ranks #75 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $208. The JBL Grip ranks #99, rated 3.1/5, at $99.95, $108.05 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Sony ULT Field 3 is the longer-running option. IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 14 for the JBL Grip. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Grip lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Grip. Watch for: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble.
The JBL Grip is the lighter choice. Ambient light on the back with settable themes. At 0.8 lbs (385 g) it weighs much less than the Sony ULT Field 3 at 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg). The catch: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $108.05 you would save on the JBL Grip does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony ULT Field 3 | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $208.00 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #75 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 27W | 16W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony ULT Field 3 compares with other leading options:
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs EarFun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 ULT Field 3: $208.00 Amazon $208.00 eBay
Older models: the Sony XB33 (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5), the Sony SRS-XE300 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5), the Sony SRS-XB31 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB30 (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Same family: the Sony ULT Field 1 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3.1/5), the Sony ULT Field 7 (smaller model, rated 3.2/5), the Sony ULT Tower 10 (smaller model, rated 3.9/5), the Sony ULT Field 5 (larger model, rated 3.5/5), the Sony ULT Tower 5 (larger model, rated 4.5/5), the Sony ULT Tower 7 (larger model, rated 4.7/5), the Sony ULT Tower 9 (larger model, rated 4.2/5) and the Sony ULT Tower Max (larger model, rated 4.8/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together: turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Full Sony ULT Field 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 4.4” x 3.1” (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Sony XB33
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose SoundLink Home
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Beats Pill 2024
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Soundcore 3
- See all 144 comparisons
JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon $99.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip. Not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers, rolled off highs and wavy midrange
Setup: EQ from Oluv in his post can help it a bit but still isn’t very neutral
Full JBL Grip review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons