Outdoor speakers are a very big market, as almost everyone likes to jam their favorite music with others. For a long time now, brands like JBL have dominated this space, especially with their popular Flip series. However, Xiaomi has decided to dip its toes into the outdoor speaker segment with its new, aptly named Outdoor Speaker, priced at just ₹3,999.
I have been testing this speaker for the past two weeks. In this review, I will help you decide whether the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker is worth your money. let’s begin
Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review
summary
At just INR 3,999, the Xiaomi outdoor speaker offers good bass, solid battery life, and a balanced sound profile with features like SterioSync and Bluetooth 5.4.
Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Design and Hardware
Xiaomi’s outdoor speaker follows the classic cylindrical design, and I absolutely love it. I tested the black variant, which in my opinion looks the best, with the signature Xiaomi orange stripe running behind it, adding a nice touch. The strap also extends to the cord, making the speaker easy to carry. I can pick up the device, attach it to my backpack, and take it anywhere.
In terms of buttons, the top features play/pause and volume control buttons, while the sides have power on/off, pairing, and speaker sync buttons. Charging is handled via USB-C, which is always a plus for ease of use and compatibility with newer chargers.
The Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker also comes with an IP67 rating, meaning it can survive submersion in water (15cm to 1m) for up to 30 minutes. When I didn’t test this claim, I accidentally dropped a glass of water on the speaker, and nothing happened.
Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Features
Apart from the sound quality (which we will discuss later), Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and Stereo SpeakerSync are the biggest selling points of Xiaomi outdoor speakers. With SpeakerSync, you can sync up to 100 speakers and play the same music, making it ideal for large family gatherings or pool parties.
I tried this feature with another unit, and the pairing process was silky smooth. All I had to do was press the SpeakerSync button, and that was it. The speaker automatically detects the other and syncs the audio. The best part? There was zero delay in the sound output, and you can also configure the two speakers to act as left or right channels.
Another awesome feature is the built-in microphone, which allows you to take calls and interact with your favorite virtual assistant without the need for your phone. During my tests, I had no problem talking to another person, and they heard my voice loud and clear from anywhere in the room.
Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Sound Quality and Battery Life
Sound is the most important part of a speaker review, and the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker’s sound quality punches above its weight. Sure, the frequency range isn’t perfect at 60Hz to 20KHz, but the output is impressive. Xiaomi has done a great job of balancing the sound profile, with the bass not overpowering the other instruments. Highs and mids are crisp and clear, making it easy to distinguish between different elements of a song.
Surprisingly, the volume was also plenty to fill a large room without cranking the speaker to full volume. Also, Xiaomi has introduced a smart volume-balancing feature, which automatically adjusts the volume of different song elements based on the room acoustics. This feature worked solidly during my use, ensuring everyone in the room could enjoy the music without turning up the volume.
battery life
The Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker has a 2600mAh battery that easily lasts 9-10 hours on a single charge, with the volume set to around 65%. However, it is worth noting that battery life will decrease if you listen at high volumes.
When it was time to recharge, the 15W fast charging support enabled me to charge the device from 20%-80% within an hour.
Should you buy a Xiaomi outdoor speaker?
Starting at just INR 3,999, the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker is an amazing value, undercutting almost every competitor by a significant margin. So, if you want a balanced speaker with a good amount of bass, solid battery life, and features like StereoSync, there are no other options. So, I give the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker a solid thumbs up, and you should check it out if you’re shopping in this segment.