Short answer: the Soundcore Glow. It ranks #43 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $80; the Sony XB23 ranks #64 and costs $100, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Soundcore Glow offers: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Watch for: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume. Light effects and bass-boost noticeably shorten battery life. USB-C port doesn’t support power-bank charging.
What the Sony XB23 offers: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Watch for: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max
Buy the Soundcore Glow. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony XB23 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Battery life favors the Soundcore Glow: rated for 18 hours against 12 hours for the Sony XB23.
If water resistance matters to you, the Soundcore Glow at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Sony XB23 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Glow | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $100 |
| Ranked | #43 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #64 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | 67Hz |
| Max Volume | 100dB | 95dB |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g | 1.3 lbs / 580 g |
| Output Power | 30W | 8W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Flip 4
- Sony XB33 vs JBL Flip 4
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs W-King D320
- Sony XB23 vs JBL Charge 3
- Sony XB23 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 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 Glow: $80 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Cons: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume. Light effects and bass-boost noticeably shorten battery life. USB-C port doesn’t support power-bank charging.
Full Soundcore Glow review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g |
- Links
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Sony XB23: $100 eBay
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life.
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 8W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 580 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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