The Mi Smart Speaker makes a better proposition in the entry-level
smart speakers' segment simply because it has better audio output than peers
from Google and Amazon.
Xiaomi’s run for
value-for-money products continues as the Chinese technology company forays
into categories other than smartphones. After a successful showing in the smart
television and smart fitness wearables space in India, the company has now
entered the smart speaker segment with the launch of Mi Smart Speaker.
The Mi
Smart Speaker is a Google Assistant-powered device, with built-in
Chromecast for easy content streaming. Besides being a smart speaker, it lets
you manage and operate supported internet-of-things (IoT) products through
voice commands. Priced at Rs 3,999, the Mi Smart Speaker is an entry-level
voice-enabled speaker that promises audio quality better than Google’s and
Amazon’s budget smart speakers. But does it live up to its name and promise?
Let’s find out:
The Mi Smart
Speaker is a lot bigger and heavier than its palm-sized peers from Amazon and
Google. Its big stature, however, gives it space to accommodate a 2.5-inch
audio driver, which is the biggest you get in any entry-level smart speaker. It
is a 12W full-range speaker, with DTS Professional audio tuning. It is powered
by Texas Instruments’ TAS5805M Hi-Fi Audio processor.
Technical details
aside, the speaker does sound better than Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot.
It is loud and clear and manages the high and low frequencies well. The output
is slightly overpowering, which works great for acoustics but not so well for
vocals. It is a front-firing speaker, so the audio is directional, not
omnidirectional. That said, the Mi Smart Speaker delivers a better experience
if kept in a room corner rather than somewhere in the centre.
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