Sony SRS-XB41 Portable Bluetooth Speaker hands-on

Portable Bluetooth speakers are ubiquitous, even more when everyone under the sun has something to offer. And now that smart speakers are increasingly more desirable for their expansive functions beyond just being a speaker, it looks a bit grim for the Bluetooth speaker segment. Sony, though, isn't ready to give up just yet, especially with its latest offering in the SRS-XB41.

Visually, it doesn't necessarily break the mold with its design. In fact, it looks very much like your typical portably Bluetooth speaker – one that rectangular in shape and a sturdy mesh covering all around its body. Even though it might lack the flair, there's utility in the design because it features an IP67 certification, making it water and dust proof. No, it's not meant to play music under water, but if you're to use it outdoors and somehow it gets dirty, you can quickly rinse it off without the worry of it being compromised.

The SRS-XB41 is made for partying, mainly due to the deep and powerful tones produced by the speaker. Enabling its Live Sound mode, you'll experience the feeling of listening to your favorite tunes live. It's honestly not for everyone, but if you prefer that kind of style, it undoubtedly delivers with its wide audio distribution. Better yet, there are LEDs throughout the speaker that light up accordingly to the music – enhancing the immersion of listening to music. These features definitely help to set the SRS-XB41 apart from most other portable speakers!

But you know what? There's still so much more that this speaker can do! For starters, it features NFC for quick and painless pairing with your mobile device. Secondly, its battery is rated for up to 24 hours of usage – with a USB port on the back to allow users to charge their other devices. You can even choose the color of the LEDs using the Fiestable app. And finally, you can have even more fun with Party Booster because the speaker becomes an instrument whereby tapping it on certainly places produces different sounds.

Staring down at the $250 price tag might be a tough sell for some people, but given all the packed features that accompanies this portable speaker, it certainly does make for a convincing package!