Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Party. It ranks #20 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $149.99; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #142, rated 2.5/5, and costs $294.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Xiaomi Sound Party is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A versatile outdoor speaker with warm, balanced sound, fully waterproof build, long battery life, a phone charging port and a handy retractable handle. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the B&O Beosound Explore. The catch: The sound evidence is mixed rather than universally glowing.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the lighter pick. A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery. At 1.4 lbs (631 g) it weighs much less than the Xiaomi Sound Party at 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg). It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Xiaomi Sound Party. Watch for: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Party. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A versatile outdoor speaker with warm, balanced sound, fully waterproof build, long battery life, a phone charging port and a handy retractable handle.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
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
| Xiaomi Sound Party | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #20 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect, up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 10” x 3.6” x 3.6” (255 x 92 x 92 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm woofers (35W total) + 2x 15mm tweeters | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1200 g) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 60W |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/2A) | USB-C |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (carabiner) |
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