Xiaomi unveils Bluetooth Speaker Essential with Bluetooth 6.0 and IP66 dust and water resistance

Xiaomi has introduced the new Bluetooth Speaker Essential, a portable speaker that features Bluetooth 6.0 support, IP66-rated protection against dust and water, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The device comes in two color options and supports multi-device pairing.

With the Bluetooth Speaker Essential now appearing on Xiaomi’s global website, it seems the company is gearing up for an international rollout of an updated version of the Redmi Bluetooth Speaker 2, which was originally launched in China last September. While there hasn’t been an official announcement for the global market yet, listing the speaker on the site hints at a launch in other regions within the coming months.

That said, the Bluetooth Speaker Essential is not just a simple rebrand of the Redmi Bluetooth Speaker 2. The key upgrade is support for the newer Bluetooth 6.0 standard, replacing the previous Bluetooth 5.3. However, the water resistance rating has been slightly downgraded: IP66 versus IP67 on the Chinese version. This means the new speaker can’t be submerged underwater up to one meter like the Redmi model, but it still offers solid protection against dust and heavy water jets.

The speaker delivers 5W of power, comparable to Xiaomi’s Sound Pocket model. Inside, there’s a 1.5-inch driver paired with a passive radiator, while a 1000mAh battery provides around 10 hours of playback at 40% volume. Cranking the volume to max drops battery life to roughly 2.5 hours.

Beyond wireless connectivity, the Bluetooth Speaker Essential can also be used as a wired speaker via its USB Type-C port. Xiaomi also highlights support for simultaneous playback across 10 speakers and a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) mode when pairing two units together.

Pricing and exact release dates haven’t been disclosed yet. For more detailed specs, check Xiaomi’s official website.