This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
Xiaomi's new Bluetooth Speaker Essential costs under ¥2,000 in Japan, and for that money it sounds decent. Its party trick is that you can plug it into a computer over USB-C and use it as a wired speaker while it charges. But it has no volume or play/pause buttons, and the bass is thin. If you just want the best cheap speaker, I'd pick the Xiaomi Sound Pocket instead.
What I tested
- Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker Essential (green)
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket — the cheap speaker I'd been using before
- JBL GO 5 — my current main speaker
- Weight on a kitchen scale, buttons and charging port, sound with the same song, and a wired USB-C connection to a Mac
What I found
| Speaker | Weight (measured) | Sound | Charging port |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 181.1 g | Clean, light on bass | Covered (a bit stiff) |
 | 196.7 g | Clearly better than the Essential | Covered (opens easily) |
 | 230.5 g | Solid, full sound | No cover |
- Lightest of the three. The Essential is about 50 g lighter than the JBL GO 5. It's round and compact — roughly the size of a bread roll.
- Only two buttons: power and Bluetooth. You can't change the volume or pause from the speaker, which is awkward if you take just the speaker into the bathroom and leave your phone outside.
- USB-C wired mode works well. Plugged into my Mac at full volume, it was louder and sounded better than the Mac's built-in speakers.
- Up to 10 units at once. Per the spec, it can link up to ten Essentials playing the same audio (not stereo); I only had one, so I didn't test this. The Sound Pocket instead pairs two units as a stereo pair. The Essential supports Bluetooth 6.0.
- Sound: pleasant and clean, but the bass is weak — after the JBL GO 5 it sounded a little hollow. Fine for watching videos.
- No charging cable in the box, just a quick start guide and manual.
Who it's for
The Essential makes sense if you want a small speaker you can plug into a laptop over USB-C, or if you like the idea of several identical speakers playing the same thing around a room. If you want the most sound for the money and proper buttons, the Xiaomi Sound Pocket did better in my test, and the JBL GO 5 sounds best of the three.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese; YouTube can show auto-generated captions. Useful chapters: 02:18 weight, 03:35 design and buttons, 06:49 sound vs Sound Pocket, 08:30 vs JBL GO 5, 09:35 wired USB-C with a Mac, 12:23 sound samples of each speaker.
Limitations
I compared the speakers by ear in my room, without measuring equipment. Prices are Japanese prices at the time of recording (the Sound Pocket was ¥2,180 then). I didn't test water resistance or battery life. Availability and colors may differ outside Japan.
Products
Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker Essential: on Amazon Japan
Xiaomi Sound Pocket: on Amazon Japan
JBL GO 5: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Earbuds, Speakers & Audio (35) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.