JBL vs Sony:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, JBL had more branded searches than Sony among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand. JBL had about 39,300 branded searches, while Sony had 17,100. JBL made up 48.8% of all bluetooth speaker brand searches we track, and Sony accounted for 21.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bluetooth speaker brands, JBL appeared in all five answers and Sony in four. JBL was mentioned before Sony in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
JBL, about 2 searches for every 1 for Sony
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Top bluetooth speaker brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, JBL appeared in all five answers. Sony was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. JBL was listed before Sony in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
JBL1st
Bose2nd
Ultimate Ears3rd
Sony4th
Soundcore5th
Marshall6th
Sonos7th
Bang & Olufsen–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
JBL5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sony4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Bose4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Ultimate Ears4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Soundcore3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Marshall2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Sonos1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Bang & Olufsen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bluetooth speaker brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which Bluetooth speaker brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best Bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best Bluetooth speaker brand in New Zealand for portable music?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best bluetooth speaker”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“portable speaker nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is JBL or Sony more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for JBL and Sony by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight bluetooth speaker brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for JBL, Sony. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | JBL | Sony | Bose | Sonos | Ultimate Ears | Soundcore | Bang & Olufsen | Marshall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.4% | 21.2% | 16.6% | 6.9% | 8.5% | 1% | 1.2% | 0.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.6% | 19.9% | 15.6% | 7.7% | 10.3% | 0.7% | 0.86% | 0.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 53.9% | 15.9% | 13.3% | 6.3% | 9% | 0.6% | 0.73% | 0.22% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.6% | 20.1% | 14.4% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 0.82% | 1.2% | 0.24% |
| Feb 2026 | 46.1% | 22.5% | 14.4% | 7.1% | 7.2% | 1% | 1.3% | 0.25% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.3% | 23% | 15% | 8.4% | 6.7% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.23% |
| Apr 2026 | 48.4% | 20.9% | 14.2% | 8.1% | 6.2% | 0.86% | 1.1% | 0.25% |
| May 2026 | 46.5% | 22.1% | 15.7% | 7.8% | 5.3% | 1% | 1.3% | 0.25% |
| Jun 2026 | 47% | 21.6% | 16.1% | 7.5% | 5% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.24% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.7% | 22.1% | 15.3% | 7.4% | 6% | 1% | 1.2% | 0.24% |
| Aug 2026 | 48% | 19.3% | 15.9% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.35% |
| Sep 2026 | 48.8% | 21.3% | 14% | 7.4% | 6.3% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.26% |
How has the JBL and Sony comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- JBL was ahead of Sony in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, JBL’s share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 44.4% to 48.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 31.8K to 39.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sony’s share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand moved from 21.2% to 21.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 15.2K to 17.1K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand bluetooth speaker brands in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Sony gained share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand, from 19.3% to 21.3%.

In September 2026, JBL gained share of searches among bluetooth speaker brands in New Zealand, from 48% to 48.8%.
How are branded searches counted?
18 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using JBL’s and Sony’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among bluetooth speaker brands

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