Short answer: the Soundcore Select 4 Go. It ranks #23 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $19.39; the Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 and costs $79, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Soundcore Select 4 Go offers: Quite inexpensive for what you get. Watch for: Not as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers.
On the Sony SRS-XB12 side: Aux in. Set against that: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the Soundcore Select 4 Go. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB12 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB12. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Select 4 Go | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.39 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #23 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 265 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Charging Time | 4 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) full range | 46mm |
| Output Power | 5W | 7W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 97Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Clip 4 vs JBL Go 4
- JBL Clip 4 vs JBL Go 3
- Hopestar H54 vs JBL Go 3
- Klipsch Austin vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Tribit PocketGo vs Sony SRS-XB12
The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Select 4 Go: $19.39 Aliexpress Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Quite inexpensive for what you get
Cons: Not as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. Doesn’t get very loud before sound quality drops; some sibilance on snare/stick transients. No built-in mic; playback is mono unless you buy a second unit.
Full Soundcore Select 4 Go review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) full range |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 265 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 5
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Clip 4
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Clip 5
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 4
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 3
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Tribit PocketGo
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- See all 19 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued
Pros: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt.
Cons: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Clip
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Tribit PocketGo
- See all 12 comparisons