Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: The Best Budget Outdoor Speaker?

Outdoor speakers are a pretty big market, as almost everyone loves to jam to their favorite music with others. For a long time, brands like JBL have dominated this space, particularly with their popular Flip series. However, Xiaomi has decided to dip its toes in the outdoor speaker segment with its new, appropriately named Outdoor Speaker, priced at just ₹3,999.

I’ve been testing this speaker for the past couple of weeks. In this review, I’ll help you decide if the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker is worth your money. Let’s get started.

Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Design & Hardware

Xiaomi’s outdoor speaker follows the classic cylindrical design, and I quite like it. I tested the black variant, which, in my opinion, looks the best, with the signature Xiaomi orange color strip running along the back, adding a nice touch. This strip also extends to a lanyard, which makes carrying the speaker super easy. I could 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 side houses the Power ON/OFF, pairing, and SpeakerSync buttons. Charging is handled via USB-C, which is always a plus for ease of use and compatibility with new chargers.

The Xiaomi Outdoor speaker also comes with an IP67 rating, meaning it can survive being submerged in water (15 cm to 1 meter) for up to 30 minutes. While I did not test this claim, I accidentally dropped a glass of water on the speaker, and nothing happened.

Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Features

Aside from sound quality (which we’ll discuss later), Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and Stereo SpeakerSync are the biggest selling point of the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker. 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’s it. The speaker automatically detected the other and synced the audio. The best part? There was zero delay in the sound output, and you can even configure two speakers to act as the left or right channel.

Another amazing feature is the built-in microphone, which allows you to take calls and interact with your preferred virtual assistant without needing your phone. During my tests, I had no problem talking to the other person, and they heard my voice loud and clear from anywhere within the room.

Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker Review: Sound Quality & Battery Life

Sound is the most important part of a speaker review, and the sound quality of the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker punches way above its weight. Sure, the frequency range isn’t the best at 60Hz to 20KHz, but the output is impressive. Xiaomi has done an excellent job of balancing the sound profile, with the bass not overpowering other instruments. The highs and mids are crisp and clear, making it easy to differentiate between the different elements of a song.

Surprisingly, even the volume was plenty to fill a big room without the speaker being cranked up to full volume. Plus, Xiaomi has introduced a smart volume-balancing feature, which automatically adjusts the volume of various song elements based on the room’s acoustics. The feature worked solid during my usage, ensuring everyone in the room could enjoy the music without increasing 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 at around 65%. However, it’s worth noting that battery life will decrease if you listen at higher volumes.

When it was time to recharge, the 15W fast charging support enabled me to charge the device from 20%-80% in just under an hour.

Should you buy the 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 SterioSync, then there aren’t any other options. Therefore, I give the Xiaomi Outdoor Speaker a solid thumbs up, and you should check it out if you are shopping in the segment.