We’ve tested a few BlueAnt speakers over the past couple of years and can safely say that they’ve established a presence in the Australian market by providing versatility and value across their range of products. I’m still using the larger BlueAnt X6 speaker to this day.
The BlueAnt X5i feels like a repackaged version of their previous X5 party speaker, and while the price has been bumped up just a little, you’re now getting almost double the volume, a vibrant light show and two wireless microphones, as opposed to the previous wired options. These aspects alone make it worth the price of admission at A$479, competing with the likes of JBL across their party speaker range.
Design
The X5i looks pretty much like the standard X5 in terms of its size, weight and overall design, with a few extra features. It is a little heavier weight-wise, coming in at 4.8 KG over the X5’s 4.1 KG, but I would ultimately attribute this to the extra firepower in the speaker setup, and well worth the slightly heavier haul. The included handle on the back does make this easy to bring around regardless.
Up front, the speaker has been given a few extra lights for display along each of the sides. They don’t add much other than to spruce up the music-themed light show at your next party, but it certainly looks much better than the standard X5.
You’ll find most of your controls up top along with a basic display to help you keep track of volume and current modes. Things are labelled relatively clearly even though there are a few buttons to navigate, I love that each button is its command as opposed to certain speakers that double up on single buttons to ease the clutter, generally making things more confusing. Finally, you’ll find a dedicated USB-A and AUX port on top and an AC port for power and charging around the back.
Performance & Functionality
Pumping out an impressive 120 watts at peak power, the X5i is nothing to sneeze at for its size. It’s packing a 165mm bass driver and two 58mm tweeters which help things sound generally well-rounded and surprisingly loud at peak volume. BlueAnt states that you’ll get a whopping 30 hours out of this thing when listening at 50% volume, which is just crazy considering how impressive that already sounds.
The only gripe I have with this is that the battery life will generally fluctuate between 7 to 30 hours because people won’t be listing on exactly 100% or 50%. My guess is 10-15 hours for most, but that isn’t really specified by BlueAnt in any greater detail.
The only thing I will say about the overall sound is that you’re certainly better off punching that dedicated ‘Bass Boost’ button on the control deck. It just gives most songs a wider soundstage and I feel like BlueAnt feels that way too, given it was on by default. There’s also an audio-driven light show to enjoy, with 7 LED modes to choose from if one feels a little chaotic.
There are even two wireless microphones included in the package, which makes this a decent option for karaoke. I found I had to crank the volume of the microphones right up to hear them well, but they pair right away and have an included USB-C port below for charging.
You’ll be able to connect all your devices via Bluetooth 5.4, and if any of them need a charge, you can take advantage of that 20800mAh battery that also acts as a power bank. I’m sure it will drain the speaker’s battery even further, but it’s a feature worth having if you’re popping your phone on this thing as the dedicated playlist DJ for a few hours.
Finally, there’s even an option to pair the X5i with another, to double your output on the fly. While I can imagine most people wouldn’t be buying two of these at once, it seems like a great idea to bring these over to a friend’s place who might also have one, to crank things up to eleven.
Verdict & Value
The BlueAnt X5i party speaker feels like an essential upgrade for those wanting to get more out of a speaker this size. If you have the previous X5 I think it’s also worth considering. For the number of features you get, compared to the quality and volume of the overall soundstage, there’s little to complain about with the X5i.
While the battery life will fluctuate wildly for most depending on the usage, there’s still plenty to love about the X5i, and I personally consider it one of the best at this size and price.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Decent sound quality; Jam-packed with features; Two wireless microphones included
Lowlights: Battery life is hard to pinpoint based on listing volume; Bass Boost option feels essential
Manufacturer: BlueAnt
Price: $479
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by BlueAnt and is currently available via the BlueAnt official website and at select retailers.
