Short answer: the Sony XB33 for better sound quality, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom for the lower price. The Sony XB33 ranks #59 of 136 medium speakers at $110. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom ranks #87 at $79, $31 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 Ultimate Ears Wonderboom offers: IP67 rated and floats. Compact, light, and simple to use. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Dip at 9khz. Low mid bass distortion. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Buy the Sony XB33 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Battery life favors the Sony XB33: rated for 24 hours against 10 hours for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB33 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #59 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #87 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) | No |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 97dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg | 0.9 lbs / 425 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 9.7" x 3.8" x 4.2" (246 x 97 x 106 mm) | - |
| Output Power | 16W RMS | - |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Soundcore Motion 300 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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- Reddit Search for Sony XB33 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom: $79 Discontinued eBay
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact, light, and simple to use.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Dip at 9khz. Low mid bass distortion. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 425 g |
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