Sony Srs-Xb12 Review

Sony Srs-Xb12 Review

TRUE SCORE

74%

#

31

/

152

Where does this product score?

Testers were delighted by the Sony SRS-XB12, and they recommended it for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. They loved its compact, waterproof construction, excellent battery life, and compatibility with smartphone voice assistants. However, they were disappointed that it doesn’t get very loud and has weak bass.

Product Awards

GR Certified

Consumer Favorite

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

77

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

89

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

74%

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Table of Contents

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Cat Trust Score

    60
    The Sony SRS-XB12 is alright for outdoor use. It’s well-built,… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The Sony SRS-XB12 packs a powerful punch for such a… read more
  • Reviews.org
    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    90
    This tough, pocket-sized speaker packs a powerful punch, and for… read more
  • ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Product Snapshot

Expert Rankings

Overview_

The Sony SRS-XB12 is Sony’s 2019-model entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that promises deep bass and excellent battery life for use on the go. It has a remarkably compact design and carrying strap, like select top speakers today. The speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 technology, featuring a 334.6-foot Bluetooth range. This speaker is waterproof and dust-proof, boasting an IP67-rated submersible design, and has an aux port. Read to the end of this Sony SRS-XB12 review and check out the best Bluetooth speakers on the market today.

Best For

Consensus_

Reason to Buy

  • Aux port
  • Smartphone-based voice assistants and speakerphone features
  • Submersible waterproof and dust-proof construction
  • Remarkably lightweight 0.4-lb design
  • Excellent 13.3-hour battery life

Reason to Avoid

  • Lacks multi-device Bluetooth pairing
  • Weak bass may not be suitable for movie enthusiasts
  • Lacks EQ
  • Doesn’t support stereo

Key Specs_

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Product Comparison_

True Score

74%
NR
NR
NR

Ranking

#

31

/

152

#

/

#

/

#

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Market Context

The Sony SRS-XB12 is Sony’s 2019-model entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that promises deep bass and excellent battery life for use on the go. It has…

The Sony SRS-XB12 is Sony’s 2019-model entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that promises deep bass and excellent battery life for use on the go. It has a remarkably compact design and carrying strap, like select top speakers today. The speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 technology, featuring a 334.6-foot Bluetooth range. This speaker is waterproof and dust-proof, boasting an IP67-rated submersible design, and has an aux port. Read to the end of this Sony SRS-XB12 review and check out the best Bluetooth speakers on the market today.

The Sony SRS-XB13 produces lower bass than its predecessor, the Sony SRS-XB12 (this review). However, the XB12 gets louder, featuring a 79.7 dB maximum SPL,…

The Sony SRS-XB13 produces lower bass than its predecessor, the Sony SRS-XB12 (this review). However, the XB12 gets louder, featuring a 79.7 dB maximum SPL, which is better than the 78.4 dB maximum SPL of the Sony SRS-XB13. Read our Sony SRS-XB13 review for details about the newer model.

With an 84.9 dB maximum SPL, the Sony SRS-XB23 gets louder than the Sony SRS-XB12, which has a 79.7 dB maximum SPL. However, the 13.3-hour…

With an 84.9 dB maximum SPL, the Sony SRS-XB23 gets louder than the Sony SRS-XB12, which has a 79.7 dB maximum SPL. However, the 13.3-hour battery life of the SRS-XB12 portable speaker is better than the 9.2-hour battery life of the XB23. Check out our Sony SRS-XB23 review for details about the XB23 wireless speaker.

The Sony SRS-XB12 has a better 0.97 dB directivity index, translating to a more immersive soundstage than the JBL Flip 5, which has a 3.29…

The Sony SRS-XB12 has a better 0.97 dB directivity index, translating to a more immersive soundstage than the JBL Flip 5, which has a 3.29 dB directivity index. It also supports smartphone voice assistants, unlike the JBL portable speaker. However, the JBL device is louder, featuring an 85.5 dB maximum SPL, which beats the 79.7 dB maximum SPL of the Sony speaker.

See Deal

Dig Deeper

All Stores_

Updated Oct 12, 2023 2:29 PM
  • $36.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No

Price History_

Score Card

E

Expert Score

77

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

89

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

74%

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Score Breakdown_

  • Rtings
    F

    Trust Score

    F

    Cat Trust Score

    60
    The Sony SRS-XB12 is alright for outdoor use. It’s well-built, has a carrying strap to… read more
  • PC Mag
    ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    80
    The Sony SRS-XB12 packs a powerful punch for such a tiny speaker, and its waterproof… read more
  • Reviews.org
    ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    90
    This tough, pocket-sized speaker packs a powerful punch, and for less than $90. While the… read more
  • ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more
  • ?

    Trust Score

    ?

    Cat Trust Score

    NR
    “No bottom line found for this product” read more

Customer Score Breakdown_

Most Promising Positive Review

Most Promising Positive Review

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