Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks #12 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $49.99; the Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 and costs $79, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Ultimate Ears Miniroll offers: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. Watch for: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
What the Sony SRS-XB12 offers: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt. Watch for: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB12 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Skip the Sony SRS-XB12 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Miniroll | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #12 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator | 46mm |
| Output Power | 3W RMS | 7W |
| Max Volume | 83dB | 93dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 97Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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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
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size.
Cons: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
Full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 83dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 3W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Anker Soundcore Mini
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- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen
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Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued eBay
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 | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB13 vs XB12 - review and full sound test - best small speaker? 🙄 More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB12 vs Soundcore Mini 3 - size matters! bluetooth speakers test!
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB12 Review
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