Xiaomi Malaysia has announced that alongside its new lineup of smart TVs, it is also introducing a new smart speaker to the local market. The Xiaomi Smart Speaker (IR Control) is a decked-out offering of a smart device that comes with a very affordable price tag and can even control some of your not-so-smart home electronics.
As you can tell from the name, the Smart Speaker is equipped with an IR transmitter, will lets it control certain compatible conventional devices such as your air conditioner, fan, or lamps. Being a smart device, it is equipped with built-in Google Assistant which gives you the usual smart assistant stuff such as controlling the volume, playback, certain smart device functionalities, and other things using voice commands.
Audio-wise, the Xiaomi Smart Speaker (IR Control) sports a single 1.5-inch speaker capable of 360-degree surround sound. For stereo playback, you can pair two of the speakers together or even more for a larger coverage, although Xiaomi did not specify the maximum number of speakers that can be synchronised.
The device has a minimal design and only comes in matte black, with an LED clock on the front that supports adaptive brightness and a control module on top. It lacks a battery, meaning that it has to be connected to a plug in order to operate and, ironically, can’t be used as a portable speaker despite its relatively small stature.
As for connectivity, the smart home device supports dual-band Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth 5.0. It also has built-in Chromecast, which lets users cast audio from their smartphone, tablet, or laptop to the speaker via Bluetooth. For the voice commands, it features a two-mic array with far-field voice wake up support.
The Xiaomi Smart Speaker (IR Control) will be available starting 16 September. The compact device will retail for only RM199 and can be purchased through its physical, Lazada, and Shopee stores.
(Source: Xiaomi Malaysia press release)
