Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #46 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $49.99; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #125, rated 2.7/5, and costs $179.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running pick. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling and a very long battery, plus quick charging. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 12 for the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor is the better-sounding pick. An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers. The tradeoff: Bass reach is limited for the cabinet size, with a rated lower limit of 60Hz, and the boosted bass gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling and a very long battery, plus quick charging.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #125 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 1.3 lbs (597 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 30W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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