Sony's SRS-XB100 proves that Bluetooth speakers don't need to have big bodies and price tags to deliver impressive performance; at under $60, Sony's most portable speaker is personal in a grippy, can-shaped package, on-the-go listening experience.

There is no shortage of cheap Bluetooth speakers, but few can be considered the best overall Bluetooth speakers. The Sony SRS-XB100 is one that makes up for the power with its compact size, durability, and long-lasting battery life; the XB100 is the best product at its price, whether you want to listen to music during a round of golf, relax on the beach, or sing along while showering.

But is it the best choice for you? Read our review of the Sony SRS-XB100 below.

The Sony SRS-XB100 is available now for $59. It replaces the Sony SRS-XB13, the smallest and most affordable speaker in the current generation Sony speaker lineup.

The Sony SRS-XB100 is a simple-looking speaker overall, but its design prioritizes portability in a clever way. Shaped like a short soda can, with a color-matched fabric strap, it should have no trouble carrying around; at 3.43 x 4.41 inches and 0.6 pounds, the speaker went everywhere with me for a few days and fit in a small bag.

Available in black, blue, light gray, and orange, the XB100's exterior has subtle ridges that enhance grip. Its special UV coating ensures that it will not fade in the sun. It also has an IP67 protection rating, which means that the speaker can withstand accidental submersion, even if, for example, it is dropped into a swimming pool.

The power button, Bluetooth pairing toggle, pause/play, and volume controls wind horizontally toward the bottom, just above the cutouts. These cutouts hollow out part of the speaker, giving a little more room for bass.

Sony's SRS-XB100 is designed to perform at its best when the speakers are upright on a table. The small drivers, passive radiator, and sound diffusion processor work together to produce sound that is more powerful than you might imagine.

Listening to "Piano Man," Billy Joel's keys and iconic harmonica diddy sound infectious, even in the open backyard setting. The instrumentation is not as deliberate as in concert, but there is no obvious loss of sound, and nuance is well preserved.

While not as loud as the UE Wonderboom 3 or as refined as the Sonos Roam, the XB100's sound quality is truly impressive for its size. Moreover, it battled environmental noise well and continued to deliver sound even in a windy beach encampment, and with two XB100 speakers, it is possible to use a stereo pair and split the left and right channels for even better performance.

As for battery life, the Sony SRS-XB100 is rated for 16 hours, two hours longer than the battery life of the Wonderboom 3. We found that this speaker lasts at least that long, if not longer. With several hours of daily use, the speaker only needed to be recharged once a week.

However, charging is perhaps my biggest complaint: charging via USB-C takes 4.5 hours, so there is not much option for a quick charge before heading out. Additionally, the included charging cable is shorter than I expected. I ended up using a third-party cable to keep the XB100 charged.

Charging woes aside, the Sony SRS-XB100 is a pretty good speaker considering its price of only $59. These days, you can't get a great device at this price without making some major trade-offs. For example, there may not be many bells and whistles, such as no EQ or voice controls, but the XB100 has everything most people want in a portable Bluetooth speaker.