Xiaomi is aiming right at JBL with this dishy yet durable Bluetooth speaker but after hours of testing, I need more depth from the sound

Date:
Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Description:
I tried Xiaomis cheap Bluetooth speaker with an infinity mirror, flashy LED lights, and top-tier waterproofing heres how Id rate it.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Xiaomi Sound Play review It turns out that major mobile manufacturer Xiaomi also makes Bluetooth speakers, and its latest model, the Xiaomi Sound Play, is aiming to deliver immersive, powerful sound as well as a stylish and
versatile design.

But thats not all. The tech giant is doing all of this while keeping its speaker nice and cheap. It comes in at just 49.90 (about $67 / AU$95) which is refreshingly affordable for an 18W model with features such as smart lighting, Auracast, and IP68 waterproofing. So can the Xiaomi Sound Play compete with some of the very best Bluetooth speakers around? The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Lets start by looking at the areas in which the Sound Play excels, and there are a fair few of these. I alluded to some a moment ago its waterproofing
and LED lights, for example. That IP68 rating means that the speaker is fully dustproof, but can also survive a dunking under a meter and a half of water for as long as 30 minutes, so you really can take it anywhere without fear of damage.

The lighting a key selling point of this speaker is pretty neat too. Lights sit on the base of the speaker and beneath a panel on the top side, which resembles an infinity mirror. And the rings of lighting really help to make your listening sessions more immersive, especially in lower-lit conditions. You can customize the color and pattern of the lights too, and one setting also syncs up to bass output. That level of customizability is spectacular to see on a speaker in this price category.

More generally, Im quite a big fan of how the Sound Play looks. It comes in four very stylish colors the Purple variant I tried is quite the looker, as is the Green version. It is reminiscent of the JBL Flip 7 in terms of look
and feel, with a neat fabric exterior and psuedo-cylindrical build. The inclusion of the infinity mirror light and handy rubber strap also make it a real stand-out, looks wise.

Another welcome inclusion is a built-in mic, for speakerphone duties. This is something you don't often see these days and it does add value, on paper. However, I made a phone call and although my voice sounded clear on the other end, I noticed a high-pitched chime whenever the other person wasnt speaking. It wasnt a dealbreaker (my discussion was still easy to navigate), but it's
my job to notice these things. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Other highlights include a JBL Grip -rivalling 14-hour battery life which is excellent for a speaker of this size as well as Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, and true wireless stereo playback for anyone with multiple Sound Play models at their disposal.

Something that the Sound Play omits, however, is companion app support. For me, this is a bigger miss an app couldve opened up EQ adjustment, remote light alteration, and precise battery life tracking. The speakers nominal price doesnt quite excuse this either. There are a number of budget-friendly rivals from the likes of Earfun, Edifier, and Tribit that do come with app support. (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Sound Play (Purple) at Amazon for
49.90 By now you must be wondering how Xiaomis speaker sounds. In honesty,
its a bit of a mixed bag. Its a steady performer in some areas, but in need
of improvement in others.

In general, the Sound Play delivers fairly clear audio. In Yes I Know My Way by Pino Daniele, vocals had good presence in the mix, and even had a decent sense of separation from other instruments in the mid-range. OK, higher-pitched drums werent the most expressive or articulate, but they didnt sound tinny at mid-volume, and bass was weighted relatively well too.

With more energetic tracks, such as Trip by Ruze, the cracks started to show. There was a slightly compressed quality to the track, and the pumping bass just didnt come through with the command or depth of similarly sized rivals, including the JBL Grip, which I directly tested against the Sound Play.

During this comparison, the Grip just delivered a more fun performance, with enhanced directionality and low-end punch. But thats not to say Xiaomis speaker was blown out of the water it still held its own with commendable clarity in the mid-range and fairly agile bass.

In House tracks, bass drops didnt always have the impact or dynamism I was listening out for, and vibrant drums could occasionally sound on the blunt side. But then again, the Xiaomi didnt succumb to a boomy, super-muddy sound that a lot of its budget rivals do it puts up a fairly controlled
performance overall.

As a smaller speaker, the Sound Play cant get super loud, and bass will thin out substantially at top volume levels. It also wont deliver the most
detailed or open sound ever again, I found a few tracks sounded a little compressed and narrow, which isnt helped by the lack of higher-res codecs
like LDAC or aptX. (Image credit: Future) All in all, I think the Sound Play sounds good enough for the price you pay. Sure, its not the most dynamic or revealing-sounding model on the market, but you get typically clear, decently balanced sound without having to shell out all too much cash.

So, looking at the Xiaomi Sound Play as a whole, would I consider it worth buying? Well that depends. If youre on a tight budget, and you want a speaker for less than 50, then I think the Sound Play is an option worth considering. It doesnt sound amazing, but it gets the job done, and Im a big fan of its durable yet eye-catching design.

However, if youve got a little more money to play with, then Id suggest picking up the JBL Flip 7. That model can produce truly seismic bass, incredibly clean audio, and has a top-class companion app to boot. The JBL Grip is another neat alternative, especially if you can grab it on sale. (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Sound Play review: price & release date Priced at 49.90 (about $67 / AU$95) Launched in May 2026 Scheduled to release in Australia in August 2026 The Xiaomi Sound Play was launched in May 2026, at the same time as its recently released 17T series . The speaker is available for 49.90 (about $67 / AU$95) in the UK, although Xiaomi told me that there are no plans for a US release, and the speaker wont be available in Australia until August 2026. It can be purchased in one of four colors Black, Green, Purple, or White via Xiaomis digital store. Xiaomi Sound Play review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Weight

0.9lbs / 415g

Dimensions

2.5 x 2.7 x 7.9 inches / 63.4 x 69.5 x 201.1mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Battery life

14 hours

Speaker drivers

1x 18W full-range

Waterproofing

IP68 (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Xiaomi Sound Play? Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Adjustable lighting, good battery life, but lack of app is a shame.

3.5/5

Performance

Decently balanced audio with clear vocals, but lacks the depth and dynamism
of some rivals.

3.5/5

Design

Infinity mirror and lights look great, neat color options, well protected against the elements.

4.5/5

Value

Decent enough audio and great design at a very affordable price point.

4/5 Buy it if

You want something stylish Im a big fan of the way Xiaomis Sound Play
speaker looks. It comes in a funky range of colors, has personalizable lighting, and the infinity mirror feels like the cherry on top.

Youre on a tighter budget Something the Sound Play has over rivals from the likes of JBL and Bose, is that its available at an exceedingly low price. At 49.90 (about $67 / AU$95), its highly affordable, and although it could sound a little better, I think it easily earns its price. Dont buy it if

You want the best-sounding speaker Although the Sound Play is a steady
enough performer, offering relatively balanced audio output with clear
vocals, its no sonic marvel. It lacks the extension and authority of
similarly powered (and sized) rivals like the JBL Grip and JBL Flip 7 so if you want truly great audio, it may not be your best option.

Youre looking for a speaker with remote controls Perhaps the biggest shame here is that the Sound Play omits a companion app. This wouldve enabled
remote control of lighting, EQ, and more, and its something that a huge proportion of Xiaomis competitors can deliver. Xiaomi Sound Play review: also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Xiaomi Sound Play

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

JBL Go 5

Price

49.90 (about $67 / AU$95)

$99.99 / 89.99 / AU$149

$54.95 / 39.99 (about AU$75)

Weight

0.9lbs / 415g

0.9lbs / 420g

0.5lbs / 230g

Dimensions

2.5 x 2.7 x 7.9 inches / 63.4 x 69.5 x 201.1mm

4.1 x 3.8 x 3.8 inches / 104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm

4 x 3.1 x 1.7 inches / 101 x 77.4 x 43mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Battery life

14 hours

14 hours

10 hours (with PlayTime Boost)

Speaker drivers

1x 18W full-range

2 x 40mm active drivers, 2 x 46.1x65.2mm passive radiators

1x 45mm full range

Waterproofing

IP68

IP67

IP68

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Ah, the UE Wonderboom 4 I just cant get enough
of this little Bluetooth speaker. For such a small model, it produces an
awful lot of bass, but its compact form makes it ideal for taking just about anywhere you go. Its also highly waterproof, offers solid battery life, and can be bought at a discount fairly regularly. Pretty good, right? Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review .

JBL Go 5 The tiny JBL Go 5 recently earned a glowing five-star review from yours truly, and for good reason. Not only is it extremely affordable, but it's equipped with a sensational feature-set, is incredibly durable, and produces far better sound than its predecessor. Read my full JBL Go 5 review
. How I tested the Xiaomi Sound Play (Image credit: Future) I spent multiple days testing Mainly streamed tunes via Tidal Reviewed by someone whos tested more than 50 Bluetooth speakers I spent multiple days testing out the Xiaomi Sound Play, during which time I listened to countless tunes, exhausted its various features, and compared it against various rivals.

When listening to music I mainly streamed tracks over Tidal , but I dipped into Spotify from time to time as well. As always, I started out by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist , which features songs from a wide variety of genres. I also listened to a ton of tunes from my personal library as well, though.

More generally, Ive spent years reviewing audio gear here at TechRadar, and have tested a whole lot of Bluetooth speakers more than 50 in fact. Ive
tried out everything from pocket-sized audio companions like the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2 through to luxurious large-sized alternatives like the Marshall Bromley 750 , as well as Xiaomi Sound Play rivals like the JBL Grip, so I know exactly what it takes for a speaker to stand out in this highly competitive market. Read TechRadars reviews guarantee First reviewed: August 2026 Xiaomi Sound Play: Price Comparison 49.90 View voucher gift 49.90 View voucher gift 49.90 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-bluetooth-speakers/xiaomi-sound-play- review


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