Short answer: the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2. It ranks #54 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $49.99; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 offers: Good battery life - 20+ hours on a charge. IPX7 rated. PartyCast mode links multiple speakers; app EQ presets. Watch for: A little less bass than similar size speakers.
What the Sony SRS-XB30 offers: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume). Watch for: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Buy the Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Skip the Sony SRS-XB30 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 | Sony SRS-XB30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $199 |
| Ranked | #54 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | 95dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 372 g | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.2" x 2.3" (174 x 57 x 59 mm) | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Output Power | 16W | 20W |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm (1.5") titanium diaphragm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs JBL Flip 5
- Bose Soundlink Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- JBL Pulse 5 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- JBL Charge 6 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
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
Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2: $49.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Good battery life - 20+ hours on a charge. IPX7 rated. PartyCast mode links multiple speakers; app EQ presets.
Cons: A little less bass than similar size speakers.
Full Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 180ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.2" x 2.3" (174 x 57 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm (1.5") titanium diaphragm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 372 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Anker Soundcore 3 vs Tribit Maxsound Plus - Best £50 speaker More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boost vs Soundcore 3 - Best small bluetooth speaker❓
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: Anker SoundCore 3 Vs. SoundCore Select 2 Bass Sound Test
- Reddit Search for Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 70 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB30: $199 eBay
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Soundcore Flare 2
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs W-King D8 Mini
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Marshall Emberton II
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Marshall Emberton III
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- See all 72 comparisons