The Sony SRS-XG300 is a smaller version of the Sony SRS-XG500. It has a similar design to its more premium cousin, with RGB lights built into the ends of its body. This smaller model is easier to bring on the go and has a built-in retractable handle. It's also compatible with Sony's Fiestable app, which lets you access extra party features of the speaker, like DJ and light effects. That said, unlike the SRS-XG500, it doesn't come with mic and guitar inputs to wire external instruments to the speaker.
Our Verdict
The Sony XG300 is alright for music. With its 'MEGA BASS' preset enabled, it has a boomy overall sound profile that adds extra warmth and punch to the mix. It's still suitable for listening to most music genres, from EDM to classical. You can customize its sound profile thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app. This speaker also gets pretty loud, though there's compression present at max volume that degrades audio quality.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks some low-bass.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
The Sony XG300 isn't bad for videos. It's not really meant for watching movies, but you can always check out a video on a paired smartphone. Latency with iOS and Android devices is low over Bluetooth, so you don't notice lip-synching issues. Dialogue reproduces clearly, but you don't get the deep thump and rumble in the bass like with larger home theater speakers.
- Gets loud.
- Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
- Lacks some low-bass.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
The Sony XG300 is good for podcasts. It's incredibly portable, so you can easily move your favorite podcasts and audiobooks from room to room. It also gets pretty loud, so you can still hear your podcast from across a large room. Its balanced mid-range ensures voices and dialogue sound clear and present in the mix, though higher-pitched voices and sounds sometimes sound dark.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Incredibly portable.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
The Sony XG300 is poor for voice assistants. Since it has no built-in voice assistants, it uses your paired smartphone's voice assistants. However, the speaker struggles to register your commands, even from up close. That said, it did a better job of understanding commands in noisier settings.
- Gets loud.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Poor far-field performance.
The Sony XG300 is very good for outdoor use. It's incredibly portable and has a retractable handle to help you carry it in one hand when heading outside. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes, so you don't need to worry about it getting wet when listening to your favorite tunes by the pool. Its long-lasting battery life of over 14 hours also makes it great for long listening sessions spent outdoors.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Incredibly portable.
- Lacks some low-bass.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
Changelog
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Updated Jun 27, 2025:
The Compared To Other Speakers was updated to discuss the successor, the Sony ULT FIELD 5.
- Updated Oct 11, 2023: Added market comparison with the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
- Updated Sep 15, 2023: Updated the review text for clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Aug 17, 2023: Updated the Portability picture for greater clarity and consistency between reviews.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony XG300 comes in two color variants: Black and Light Gray. This review represents the test results for the Light Gray variant, though they're both expected to perform similarly. You can see its label here.
If you encounter any other variants, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony XG300 is a smaller version of the Sony SRS-XG500 with RGB lights. Unlike the Sony XG500, it doesn't have mic and guitar inputs to wire your external instruments to the speaker. It's more portable thanks to its smaller and more lightweight design. Its handle is also retractable, so it takes up less space. Like other Sony party speakers we've tested, it's compatible with Sony's Fiestable app, which allows you to access extra party features of the speaker, like DJ and light effects. The XG300 has since been replaced by the Sony ULT FIELD 5, which is fairly similar when it comes to performance, but the central difference (apart from aesthetics) is that the ULT FIELD 5 sounds bassier, but you can EQ the XG300 to add more bass to taste, too.
See also our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best speakers for parties.
The Sony ULT FIELD 5 is the successor of the Sony SRS-XG300, and they have a lot in common. The main differences have to do with the ULT FIELD 5 adding ULT SOUND presets that make it a bassier proposition. While the SRS-XG300 compresses less at max volume, it has some support for voice assistants, which is absent on the ULT FIELD 5. There are compelling reasons to pick up either, but if you like a bassier sound, then the ULT FIELD 5 is probably the better pick.
The Sony SRS-XG300 is better than the JBL Xtreme 3 overall. You can use the Sony speaker to answer and reject phone calls, and it supports voice assistants via your paired smartphone. It comes with customizable RGB lights. It's compatible with Sony's Fiestable app, which lets you access extra party features of the speaker. It also has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it better suited for watching videos and movies. Some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary. That said, the JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile overall.
The Sony SRS-XG300 is a more versatile speaker than the Sony SRS-XG500 overall. You can use the XG300 to answer and reject phone calls, and it supports voice assistants through your smartphone. It's smaller and lighter too, making it more portable. That said, if you're looking for a portable speaker to bring to your next party, the XG500 is the better choice. It can produce a slightly more extended low-bass and comes with mic and guitar inputs you can use to wire your external instruments to the speaker. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 26 hours from a single charge, so the speaker doesn't die on you in the middle of your party.
The Sony SRS-XG300 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43, though not by much. The XG300's sound profile is slightly more balanced and has a wider-sounding soundstage. It also gets a touch louder. The XB43's battery life lasted almost an hour longer in our tests, though this varies depending on your chosen volume levels and settings. Overall, the differences between the two speakers are pretty minor, so unless you're very particular about your speaker's sound, the XB43 offers similar performance at a more affordable price.
Test Results
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