Introduction: The "sound quality" battle of smart speakers

In today's booming smart home, smart speakers are no longer simple voice assistants, but have become the core entrance for home entertainment, information access and intelligent control. However, in the face of a wide range of products on the market, consumers are often caught in the dilemma of having both "smart" and "sound quality" when purchasing. In this in-depth evaluation, we have selected five popular smart speakers with the highest attention and leading sales on the market. We compare them in all aspects from sound quality performance, intelligent functions, design process, cost performance, etc., aiming to reveal for you who is the real "king of sound quality" and help you make informed decisions when purchasing.

Product Overview

We have carefully selected the following five smart speakers representing different price points and positioning to participate in this showdown:

• Huawei Sound X News
  : Mainly high fidelity sound quality, equipped with Divale joint tuning.
  
• Xiaomi Sound Pro
  It is renowned for its cost-effectiveness and emphasizes the 360 surround sound field.
  
• Apple HomePod mini
  Apple's entry-level choice for the ecosystem is known for its intelligent linkage.
  
• Xiaodu smart screen X10
  : Representatives of speakers with screens, taking into account audio-visual and intelligent.
  
• Tmall Genie X6
  The flagship of Ali Ecology, focusing on low-frequency performance.
  

Deep Comparison of Sound Quality: Hardcore Parameters and Hearing Experience

Sound unit and acoustic design

The hardware foundation of sound quality lies in the sound unit. Huawei Sound X New uses a combination of three 5W full-range speakers and one 50W subwoofer, and is equipped with two passive radiators, which can dive powerfully at low frequencies; Xiaomi Sound Pro is equipped with a 2.25-inch full-range unit and 7 sound units to form a 360 surround sound field; Apple HomePod mini, although small in size, achieves surprisingly balanced sound quality thanks to Apple's acoustic algorithm; Small Smart Screen X10 focuses more on the clarity of medium and high frequencies to improve the listening experience of human voice and video content; Tmall Genie X6 emphasizes low frequencies and has built-in 6Ω high-power speakers.

Actual listening: the expression of different musical styles

We selected typical tracks such as pop, classical, rock, and vocals for blind listening test. In terms of pop music, Huawei Sound X New has the most outstanding performance with its strong low frequency and clear vocal separation, and has a full sense of rhythm; Xiaomi Sound Pro's 360 sound field has a stronger atmosphere when playing live music, but the low frequency is slightly loose; Apple HomePod mini has excellent high-frequency resolution, and the sound is transparent, but the low-frequency measurement is insufficient; the small-scale smart screen X10 has a natural performance in intermediate frequency vocals, suitable for listening to podcasts and audiobooks; Tmall Genie X6 has a deep low-frequency dive, but it is slightly distorted at high volume.

Sound quality score (out of 10)

Intelligent functions and ecosystems

In addition to sound quality, the "brain" of the smart speaker is equally important. We tested each product's automatic speech recognition accuracy, response speed, smart home control compatibility, and content resource richness.

• Automatic speech recognition and response
  In noisy environments, Huawei and Xiaomi have the highest wake-up rates, while Apple performs well in quiet environments, but slightly worse in noisy environments.
  
• Smart Home Control
  Apple HomePod mini supports HomeKit accessories perfectly, but cross-platform compatibility is poor; Huawei, Xiaomi, and Tmall Genie all support their own ecosystems and mainstream third-party platforms, with wider compatibility.
  
• content resources
  Xiaodu smart screen X10 has obvious advantages in video content (such as iQIYI and Youku) with Baidu ecology; Huawei Music, Xiaomi Music, Tencent Music and other mainstream platforms are covered.
  

Design and process

The appearance design is also part of the user's consideration. Huawei Sound X New uses a cylindrical design, with excellent metal mesh texture and a variety of colors to choose from; Xiaomi Sound Pro uses a transparent shell, which has a strong sense of technology; Apple HomePod mini continues Apple's usual minimalist style, and the fabric material feels delicate; the small smart screen X10 is equipped with a 10.1-inch high definition touch screen, which is more biased towards smart tablets; Tmall Genie X6 is made of fabric material, which is more warm. In terms of size, the small smart screen X10 is the largest, followed by Xiaomi Sound Pro, and the other three are relatively small.

Price and cost performance analysis

Price is a key factor in deciding to buy. The current prices of the five products on the e-commerce platform are roughly as follows (subject to April 2025):

Overall, Xiaomi Sound Pro and Tmall Genie X6 provide good sound quality and functions at a price below 1,000 yuan, with outstanding cost performance; Huawei Sound X New although the price is the highest, but the sound quality performance is indeed worth for money; Apple HomePod mini is suitable for Apple ecological users; Small smart screen is suitable for families with audio and video needs.

Advantages and disadvantages summary and recommendation

Huawei Sound X News

• Advantages:
  Sound quality comprehensive performance is the best, low frequency shock, treble clear; high-end design.
  
• Disadvantages:
  Expensive and bulky.
  

Xiaomi Sound Pro

• Advantages:
  360 surround sound field, cost-effective, supports a variety of connection methods.
  
• Disadvantages:
  The low frequency is slightly scattered, and the appearance has a strong plastic feel.
  

Apple HomePod mini

• Advantages:
  Seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem, balanced sound quality, and support for air playback.
  
• Disadvantages:
  It is not friendly to non-Apple users, and Siri is generally intelligent.
  

Xiaodu smart screen X10

• Advantages:
  With screen design, good audio and video experience, built-in massive video resources.
  
• Disadvantages:
  The sound quality is relatively mediocre, more like a tablet than a speaker.
  

Tmall Genie X6

• Advantages:
  The low frequency is strong, the cost performance is high, and Ali's ecological shopping is convenient.
  
• Disadvantages:
  The medium and high frequency performance is average, and the appearance design is average.
  

Conclusion: How to Choose the Best Smart Speaker for You?

After this in-depth review, we can come to the conclusion that there is no absolute "best", only the most suitable. If you are a sound enthusiast with a good budget, Huawei Sound X New is undoubtedly the first choice; if you are looking for cost performance and surround sound field, Xiaomi Sound Pro is worth considering; if you are an Apple user, HomePod mini can provide a seamless experience; if you need an entertainment center with a screen, the small smart screen X10 is a good choice; if you prefer low frequency and shopping convenience, Tmall Genie X6 is more attractive. Hope this review can provide valuable reference for your purchase. Now, make an informed decision according to your needs!