Short answer: the Sony XB33 for better sound quality, the JBL Grip for the lower price. The Sony XB33 ranks #59 of 136 medium speakers at $110. The JBL Grip ranks #75 at $99.95, $10.05 cheaper.
What the Sony XB33 offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
What the JBL Grip offers: Ambient light on the back with settable themes Watch for: 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
Buy the Sony XB33 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Grip when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony XB33 is rated for 24 hours versus 14 hours for the JBL Grip.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB33 | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 | $99.95 |
| Ranked | #59 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #75 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 97dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg | 0.8 lbs / 385 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) | 2.5" x 6" x 2.6" (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Output Power | 16W RMS | 16W |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Sony ULT Field 1
- JBL Flip 7 vs Creative iRoar Go
- JBL Flip 6 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Grip
- Sony XB23 vs Sony XB33
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 XB33: $110 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.
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.
Full Sony XB33 review and specifications →
| 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) |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 97dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- 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?
- Reddit Search for Sony XB33 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Grip: $99.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Ambient light on the back with settable themes
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 →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 385 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons