Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #41 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $56.80; the Bose Soundlink Mini ranks #56 and costs $128.67, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Bose Soundlink Mini: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. The catch: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers.
On the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor side: A pretty decent sounding speaker. Watch for: Boosted bass. Somewhat uncontrolled in the bass at high levels.
One note: the Bose Soundlink Mini is discontinued, but it still ranks #56 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Mini and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Bose Soundlink Mini at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Mini | Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $128.67 Discontinued | $56.80 |
| Ranked | #56 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 1.3 lbs / 597 g |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) | 7.7" x 2.7" x 2.6" (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector | USB-C |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | No |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 30W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Stormbox Pro vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- Teufel Rockster XS vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Bose Soundlink Flex vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- JBL Charge Essential 2 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose Soundlink Mini: $128.67 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Compact aluminum build feels sturdy and dense. Comes with a charging cradle.
Cons: Boosted upper bass like most Bose speakers. Upper treble rolled off. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others. Failures of the mainboard are common. Discontinued.
Full Bose Soundlink Mini review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2" x 2.3" (180 x 51 x 58 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary connector |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- See all 22 comparisons
Xiaomi Sound Outdoor: $56.80 Amazon
Pros: A pretty decent sounding speaker.
Cons: Boosted bass. Somewhat uncontrolled in the bass at high levels
Full Xiaomi Sound Outdoor review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.7" x 2.7" x 2.6" (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Drivers | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 597 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Tribit Stormbox Pro
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs JBL Pulse 5
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Soundcore Motion 100
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Soundcore Glow
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II
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- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- Xiaomi Sound Outdoor vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- See all 18 comparisons


