Last month, Xiaomi launched its new outdoor Bluetooth speaker alongside the Redmi Note 14 Series and Redmi Buds 6 TWS. The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor speaker is priced aggressively at Rs 3,999. It rocks a 20W woofer and a 10W driver to deliver a 30W audio output. To further enrich the sonic output, the Sound Outdoor has a passive woofer radiator on either side. Adding to the outdoor appeal of the speaker is its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Interested to see how the speaker performed in different settings, we used it as our primary audio companion for a week. Here is our comprehensive review of the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor speaker.
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Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker Review: Design
Here’s what you get inside Xiaomi Sound Outdoor’s retail box:
- Speaker
- USB Type-A to Type-C cable
- User manual
Xiaomi’s outdoor Bluetooth speaker is available in 3 colour options – Black, Red, and Blue. The Black variant has a contrasting orange lanyard while the other two variants stick with the body colour for the looping rubber strip. This lanyard also houses the power, Bluetooth, and multi-speaker pairing buttons. The media control buttons are positioned on top of the speaker. At the bottom lie the two rubber feet to keep the speaker firmly in place.
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Our favourite thing about Xiaomi Sound Outdoor’s design is its tubular form factor with defined edges. These edges ensure that the speaker doesn’t roll off the surface. The device is covered with a mesh fabric which wards off the dust quite easily. The rubber media control buttons are shaped like the +, -, and play signs. This makes them easier to find without looking at the device. There are no LED lights or indicators on the speaker. We would have preferred a compact light bar to indicate the battery level, but its absence isn’t a deal breaker.
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Xiaomi Sound Outdoor’s IP67 rating makes it a great device for outdoor pool parties and beach visits. The speaker remains unaffected by water splashes and gentle drizzles. Having said that, we wouldn’t recommend subjecting it to harsh conditions on a regular basis as water protection on electronic devices in general can hit a point of diminishing return fairly quickly.
Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker Review: Performance
Producing the audio output on the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor are 20W + 10W dual drivers. These front-facing drivers are accompanied by a passive woofer radiator on either side. The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.4 which makes the pairing process quick and easy. Since there is no 3.5 jack on the device, your connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth.
Now, let’s talk about the most important aspect of the Sound Outdoor speaker – it’s soundstage. For a Bluetooth speaker priced at Rs 3,999, the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor produces a phenomenal audio output. Looking at the spec sheet, you may be wondering whether the 20W woofer driver and the passive subwoofers are overkill. After using the speaker for a week, we can happily report that the strong low-end does not meddle with the lucid mid and high-range frequencies. While the soundstage is far from neutral, it is quite lush and packed with details. The added ‘punch’ from the side woofers makes the listening experience all the more enjoyable.
We played Khruangin’s A La Sala on the Sound Outdoor and were pleased with the way it relayed the mix. The clean guitar tone and sharp clapper hits were delivered expertly with a warm blanket of surrounding bass. Playing Adrianne Lenker’s Bright Future, we were impressed with how the speaker managed the relatively quieter mix and gave more prominence to the vocals and acoustic guitar.Â
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In outdoor conditions, you can push the volume level to 100% without worrying about any distortion creeping into the soundstage. However, since the audio drivers on this speaker are front-facing only, people sitting behind it are unable to get the full sonic experience. This is where the Sound Outdoor’s linking chops come into play. With just one press of a button, this device can connect with other speakers and relay the audio output without any latency. The Sound Outdoor is capable of connecting with 99 additional speakers.
If your phone is out of reach, you can use Xiaomi Sound Outdoor to take calls by just pressing the play button. The sole microphone on the speaker does a good job of relaying the speaker’s voice in indoor conditions. However, in noisy outdoor conditions, the call quality takes a hit.
Xiaomi claims that the 2,600mAh battery pack on this speaker can power it up to 12 hours on a single charge. This claim is true if you don’t push the speaker beyond the 50% volume level. During the review period, we used the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor speaker between 70-80% volume level and got 8-10 hours of playtime out of it. It takes up to 2.5 hours to fully charge the speaker.
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Verdict
Xiaomi Outdoor Sound checks all the essential boxes while also being easy on the wallet. The vibrant and detailed soundstage punches above its weight and outperforms almost every speaker in this category. The two woofer radiators along the sides add the thump to the mix and make the listening experience all the more enjoyable. On top of that, Xiaomi Sound Outdoor’s IP67 rating and 12-hour battery life further embolden its case for being one of the best speakers for outdoor use.
Xiaomi Outdoor Sound: Pros
- Good design
- Lush soundstage
- Long battery life
- Affordable
Xiaomi Outdoor Sound: Cons
- Lacks an LED indicator for battery status
