Short answer: the XB33, by a small margin. It ranks #62 of 142 medium speakers at $110; the XB23 ranks #67 at $100, five places and $10 apart.
Both share a strange Sony quirk. Neither speaker will hold its own maximum volume: the XB23’s cons note it reduces its own volume over time at max, and the XB33 has the same self-limiting behavior. If you buy either expecting to run it flat out, be aware it’s designed not to let you.
The XB33 adds lighting and a bigger pairing network. App-controlled LED lighting and Sony’s Party Connect, which links up to 100 speakers, are both absent from the XB23. Real-world battery life is also claimed at around 19 hours without the lights running, against the XB23’s 12-hour rating.
The XB23 is described as the more neutral of the two. Its cons are narrower: bass that drops off noticeably at high volume, where the XB33’s cons list broader tonal issues including upper bass peaks and a midrange dip.
Buy the XB33 for the lighting, the longer battery claim, and the slightly higher ranking. Buy the XB23 if a flatter tonal balance matters more to you than either.
Battery life favors the Sony XB33: rated for 24 hours against 12 hours for the Sony XB23.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony XB33 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Sony XB23 at IPX4 (splashing).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB23 | Sony XB33 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $110 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #67 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #62 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS | 16W RMS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) | Yes (3 band) |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 110ms |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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 XB23: $100 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei Sound Joy vs Sony xb23 - worse or worser? 🤭
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE200 Review And Compared to Sony XB23 - It Got The XE300 Treatment More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony XB33: $110 Discontinued eBay
Pros: IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). App-controlled color LED lighting, Party Connect links up to 100 speakers. ~19 hour real-world battery without lights. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not very loud. Upper bass peaks, midrange dip, upper midrange peaks, not very neutral. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB33 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess More from GYMCADDY →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
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