First released in early 2019, the Sony XB90 is a premium Bluetooth speaker with a high enough max volume to be used outdoors. The XB90 features RGB lighting and a battery that lasts up to 15 hours, which is in line with some of the most popular speakers in the industry. The Sony speaker can also be used as a speakerphone and is compatible with Google Assistant and Siri when paired to a smartphone through Bluetooth. Speaking of which, the speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity rivals that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers since it can pair with up to three devices simultaneously, and its latency, when paired with either iOS or Android devices, is also relatively low. The XB90 also has an easy-to-use companion app with a graphical equalizer and presets. The app also allows for pairing with other speakers for an even more immersive listening experience when streaming videos or music.
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Sony XB90 Review
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Top-tier testers liked that the Sony XB90 had a deep bass response and a high maximum volume. They also appreciated its user-intuitive companion app and long battery life; however, they complained that its bulky size infringed on its portability and did not like its lack of WiFi connectivity.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
First released in early 2019, the Sony XB90 is a premium Bluetooth speaker with a high enough max volume to be used outdoors. The XB90 features RGB lighting and a battery that lasts up to 15 hours, which is in line with some of the most popular speakers in the industry. The Sony speaker can also be used as a speakerphone and is compatible with Google Assistant and Siri when paired to a smartphone through Bluetooth. Speaking of which, the speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity rivals that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers since it can pair with up to three devices simultaneously, and its latency, when paired with either iOS or Android devices, is also relatively low. The XB90 also has an easy-to-use companion app with a graphical equalizer and presets. The app also allows for pairing with other speakers for an even more immersive listening experience when streaming videos or music.
Consensus
our Verdict
Critics praised the Sony XB90 for its powerful bass output and how loud it could get. During their experiments, experts from Rtings were able to adjust and customize its sound quality after connecting to the XB90 through the Sony Music Center (app), and they were also pleased with how easy it was to use. They lauded the speaker’s deep bass response and were satisfied with its 15.3-hour battery life. Testers from Nerd Techy also liked that the XB90 could be paired with up to 3 different devices and that it had support for NFC one-touch connectivity.
Still, the XB90 didn’t impress reviewers with its bulky nature, as they complained that this made it difficult to move around. The Sony XG500 is an alternative that doesn’t compromise on bass depth or battery life but is more portable. Check it out in our Sony SRS XG500 review. Testers also complained about the speaker’s lack of WiFi connectivity.
ReasonS to Buy
- Works with Google Assistant and Siri
- High max volume
- Easy-to-use companion app
- Great battery performance
- Multi-device connectivity
Reason to Avoid
- No WiFi connectivity
- Bulky in size
Sony XB90 Specs
 | Battery Life | 15 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | n/a |
 | Charge Time | 4.5 hrs |
 | Size | 13.23" (w) x 26.38" (h) x 13.19" (d) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | n/a |
 | Wattage | 470W |
 | Wireless Range | 40 ft |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 15.3 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 98.3 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 63.496 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 1,612.699 |
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Product Comparison
 Sony XB90 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 66 | 82 | 76 | 84 |
Ranking | # 105 / 109 | # 31 / 109 | # 92 / 109 | # 12 / 109 |
Market Context |
First released in early 2019, the Sony XB90 is a premium Bluetooth speaker with a high enough max volume to be used outdoors. The XB90… |
The Sony XB90 and the Sony XP700 are two large-size speakers that have subtle differences from each other. For example, the XB90 supports speakerphone and… The Sony XB90 and the Sony XP700 are two large-size speakers that have subtle differences from each other. For example, the XB90 supports speakerphone and voice assistant functionality, while the XP700 does not, but the XP700 is water resistant while the XB90 is not. Also, the XB90 can handle up to 3 devices, while the XP700 can only handle two devices. Feel free to learn more about the XP700 in our Sony XP700 review. |
The Sony XB90 is battery powered but the Sony XB72 is not, and the XB90 can handle three simultaneous connections while the XB72 is limited… The Sony XB90 is battery powered but the Sony XB72 is not, and the XB90 can handle three simultaneous connections while the XB72 is limited to two. However, the XB72 has a built-in antenna for radio while the XB90 does not. We’ve also covered the XB72 in our Sony XB72 review. |
The Sony XB90 has voice assistant and speakerphone functionality, while the JBL PartyBox 310 does not. However, the PartyBox 310 is water resistant while the… The Sony XB90 has voice assistant and speakerphone functionality, while the JBL PartyBox 310 does not. However, the PartyBox 310 is water resistant while the XB90 is not, and its 17.1-hour battery lasts slightly longer than the 15.3-hour battery on the XB90. |
Battery Life | 15 hrs | 25 hrs | 23 hrs | 18 hrs |
Built In Microphone | n/a | n/a | Yes | Yes |
Charge Time | 4.5 hrs | 3 hrs | n/a | 3.5 hrs |
Size | 13.23" (w) x 26.38" (h) x 13.19" (d) | 27.28" (h) x 12.32" (w) x 14.44" (d) | 34.5 cm (w) x 65.6 cm (h) x 37.9 cm (d) | 27" (h) x 12.8" (w) x 14.5" (d) |
Smart App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water Resistant | n/a | Yes | n/a | Yes |
Wattage | 470W | 110W | 60W | 240W |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 60 is a Meh
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
64The Sony GTK-XB90 is alright for music. While it has a boomy sound profile with… Read MoreBy:
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro
Customer Scores
- 78
(
3.9/5
)
49Ratings
- NR
(
NR/5
)
Ratings
- 84
(
4.2/5
)
38Ratings
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