Head-to-head · Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100

Anker Soundcore 2 vs Sony SRS-XB100

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Sony SRS-XB100 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Travelers and shower-and-desk listeners who want the most pocketable, balanced-sounding waterproof speaker for around $50. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100

Anker Soundcore 2

4.1

$29.99as of Jun 7

The Anker Soundcore 2 is the best budget pick under $100, delivering clean bass, around 24 hours of battery and IPX7 water resistance for a price that's often well under $50. Its spiral bass port keeps the low end tidy where rivals get muddy, making it a remarkable value. The sound can strain at high volume and it still uses micro-USB, but as an affordable, long-lasting everyday speaker it's hard to argue with.

Strengths

— Clean, surprisingly capable bass from a unique spiral bass port
— Outstanding battery life rated around 24 hours
— Excellent value, frequently available for well under $50

Watch-outs

— Overall sound quality trails pricier rivals and can sound strained when loud
— Bass lovers will still want more low-end punch
— Older micro-USB charging rather than USB-C

$29.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100

Sony SRS-XB100

4.2

$38.57as of Jun 7

The Sony SRS-XB100 is the best truly tiny Bluetooth speaker under $100, packing surprisingly full, bass-forward sound and a built-in mic into a body the size of a soda can. Its IP67 rating, roughly 16-hour battery and 274g weight make it a brilliant shower, hiking and travel speaker. It can't fill a big space and its app is bare-bones, but for portable, balanced sound on a budget it's a standout value.

Strengths

— Impressively full, balanced sound and bass for such a tiny speaker
— Excellent portability at just 274g, fits in a cup holder or jacket pocket
— IP67 waterproof and dustproof for shower and poolside use

Watch-outs

— Not powerful enough to fill a medium room or backyard
— Treble is slightly dampened by the speaker's upward-firing position
— Sparse features in the Sony Music Center app

$38.57 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Anker Soundcore 2

The Anker Soundcore 2 is the budget value play of this group, undercutting the JBL Flip 6, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, JBL Clip 5 and Sony SRS-XB100 on price while delivering the longest battery life of the five at around 24 hours. It trades the IP67 toughness of the JBL and Sony picks for slightly lower IPX7 water resistance and lacks their USB-C charging, but its spiral bass port keeps the low end cleaner than its price suggests.

Sony SRS-XB100

The Sony SRS-XB100 is the smallest and cheapest of the durable picks here, more pocketable than the JBL Flip 6 and Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 while sharing their IP67 rating. Unlike the JBL Clip 5 it has no carabiner but adds a built-in microphone for calls, and like the Clip 5 and Anker Soundcore 2 it's a personal-listening speaker that can't match the Flip 6 or Wonderboom 4 for room-filling volume.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Anker Soundcore 2	Sony SRS-XB100
Drivers	Dual drivers + spiral bass port	—
Power Output	12W RMS	—
Battery Life	Up to 24 hours	Up to 16 hours
Waterproofing	IPX7 (water resistant)	IP67 (waterproof + dustproof)
Bluetooth	5.0	5.3
Stereo Pairing	Yes (two units)	—
Charging	Micro-USB	USB-C
Weight	414 g	274 g
Driver	—	46mm full-range + passive radiator
Microphone	—	Built-in (hands-free calls)
Mounting	—	Detachable multi-way strap

← See the full ranking of best portable bluetooth speakers under $100