Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Sony XB33 is the better pick: it ranks #77 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 3.4/5), against #161 (rated 2.2/5) for the Ultimate Ears Roll 2. If you want one new, the Sony ULT Field 3 replaces the Sony XB33 and is rated 3.4/5 at $208.
The Sony XB33 is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 9 for the Ultimate Ears Roll 2. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Ultimate Ears Roll 2. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Not very loud.
The Ultimate Ears Roll 2 is the lighter pick. Thin, flat profile fits easily in a bag or purse. At 0.7 lbs (330 g) it weighs much less than the Sony XB33 at 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony XB33 lacks. The tradeoff: Barely any bass, rolled off treble off axis.
Buy the Sony XB33 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Sony ULT Field 3, which replaces the Sony XB33.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB33 | Ultimate Ears Roll 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 Discontinued | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #77 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #161 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) | Yes (UE Roll app) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (5-band via UE ROLL app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.7” x 3.8” x 4.2” (246 x 97 x 106 mm) | 5.9” x 5.3” x 1.6” (149.5 x 135 x 40 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS | 10W |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 1x 2” full-range + 2x 0.75” tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony XB33 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony XB33
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony XB33
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Charge 6 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Flip 6 vs Sony XB33
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 XB33: $110 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Apr 2025.
Older models: 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.
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 →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| 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 XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Roll 2: $100 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll, rated 3.9/5, released Sep 2024. It adds built-in mic and stereo pairing, but drops the aux input, app control and adjustable EQ. Battery life goes from 9 to 12 hours. See every Ultimate Ears Roll generation.
Pros: Thin, flat profile fits easily in a bag or purse. Built-in bungee cord for hanging from a hook, nail, or door handle. Life-resistant waterproof/dustproof shell.
Cons: Not stereo. Barely any bass, rolled off treble off axis. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Roll 2 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
| App | Yes (UE Roll app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.9” x 5.3” x 1.6” (149.5 x 135 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2” full-range + 2x 0.75” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (5-band via UE ROLL app) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (330 g) |
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