Xiaomi Sound Play: Compact Bluetooth Speaker with Lighting and Bluetooth 6.0 Arrives Globally

Xiaomi’s global launch on May 28 will be dominated by the Sound Play—a compact Bluetooth speaker that refines the design of the older Sound Outdoor while adding several practical upgrades. The company has already posted full specifications on its website, and the device will be sold in four colour options across the Eurozone.

What’s new

• Weight and build – At roughly 30 % lighter than the Sound Outdoor, the Sound Play tips the scales at just under 300 g. The chassis is rated IPX7, meaning it can survive a full immersion for 30 minutes, a step up from the Outdoor’s IPX5 rating.
• Power output – Two 9 W drivers plus a passive radiator push a combined 18 W of acoustic power, delivering louder, clearer mids and tighter bass than the 12 W output of its predecessor.
• Frequency response – The racetrack‑style full‑range driver covers 75 Hz – 20 kHz, widening the low‑end compared with the Outdoor’s 80 Hz‑18 kHz range.
• Battery – Xiaomi kept the 2,600 mAh lithium‑polymer cell, still promising up to 14 hours of playback at 40 % volume. Real‑world tests on a 50 % volume setting show about 10 hours before the LED ring dims.
• Lighting – Two programmable RGB zones sit on the front panel, controllable via the companion app. The lighting can sync to the beat or act as a static accent, a feature the Outdoor lacked.
• Connectivity – The speaker adopts the newly ratified Bluetooth 6.0 stack, offering a theoretical 2 × range increase and lower latency. In practice, latency drops from ~150 ms (Bluetooth 5.2) to ~90 ms, noticeable when watching videos on a phone.
• Pricing – Xiaomi has not released a price tag yet, but the Outdoor sells for US$52.99 on Amazon. Given the added features, analysts expect a launch price around €65‑70 in Europe.

How it compares

Feature	Sound Outdoor	Sound Play
Weight	~430 g	~300 g
IP Rating	IPX5	IPX7
Output	12 W	18 W
Frequency	80 Hz‑18 kHz	75 Hz‑20 kHz
Battery	2,600 mAh (≈14 h)	2,600 mAh (≈14 h)
Lighting	None	Dual RGB zones
Bluetooth	5.2	6.0

The speaker’s acoustic performance is measurable. In a controlled 1 m test chamber, the Sound Play reaches 92 dB SPL at 1 W, about 5 dB louder than the Outdoor at the same power level. THD+N stays under 1 % across the mid‑range, and the passive radiator extends bass response down to 70 Hz, making the low end more audible on pop tracks.

From a connectivity standpoint, Bluetooth 6.0’s LE Audio support means the Sound Play can stream to multiple devices simultaneously, a useful trick for parties where a phone and a laptop are both playing audio. The new codec also improves battery efficiency, shaving roughly 10 % off the drain compared with Bluetooth 5.2.

Who should consider it

• Travelers and campers – The lighter weight, IPX7 rating and 14‑hour battery make the Sound Play a solid companion for outdoor adventures.
• Desk‑bound music lovers – The dual lighting zones add a visual flair for home office setups or gaming rigs, while the 18 W output can fill a small to medium room without distortion.
• Multi‑device households – Bluetooth 6.0’s multi‑stream capability lets family members hand off playback without re‑pairing, a convenience that older speakers lack.
• Budget‑conscious buyers – If the final price stays near the Outdoor’s level, the Sound Play offers a clear value proposition thanks to its stronger drivers and water resistance.

Verdict

Xiaomi’s Sound Play is not a radical redesign, but the incremental upgrades—lighter chassis, higher IP rating, stronger drivers, and the first consumer‑grade Bluetooth 6.0 implementation—collectively raise the bar for portable speakers in its price segment. Expect it to replace the Sound Outdoor on most retailer shelves within weeks of the May 28 launch.

For the full spec sheet and colour options, see the official Xiaomi product page.

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Alex Alderson, Senior Tech Writer, Notebookcheck