X-Mini Click 2 review: This tiny Bluetooth speaker provides big sound and extreme portability

It's 2018 and you can now experience big sound in a tiny, compact package. It's a package that fits in one's pocket. It's an aide to your smartphone speakers that are constantly sounding like they are about to die. Have a group gathering around a smartphone/laptop to watch the latest viral video and your speakers may not suffice.

That's where Singaporean company X-Mini steps in. Their tag line, 'sound beyond size' fits perfectly with their latest product that I've been trying out for the past ten days. They have brought their pocket-sized & portable Bluetooth speaker to India. The X-Mini Click 2 retails for Rs 1,800, down from its price at launch.

While smartphone/laptop speakers are constantly getting better, they still lag behind external speakers. The Bluetooth speaker market has been evolving over the last few years and the new trend is delivering a big sound in a relatively small package. While there are speakers that cost anywhere from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500, they don't sound great. On the other end of the spectrum are Bluetooth speakers costing Rs 10,000 and more. They are bigger in size and the quality of sound from them is top notch. What they aren't exactly known for is being portable.

To that end, the X-Mini Click 2 is trying to plug the gap in the market. X-Mini is of the opinion that one needs a speaker that fits into your pocket, and not just swimming around the backpack upon your shoulders. The X-Mini is almost as small as one of those round lip balm containers. The speaker weighs in at just 85g and comes in at a size of 50mm x 30.5mm. Let the size not fool you though. This speaker may be tiny, but it does not compromise on the build quality. I've dropped it a bunch of times and it still plays music and podcasts with aplomb.

The design and finish are quite surprising for something this tiny. It's made using matte-finished aluminum and there is a grippy rubber base that makes for a solid grip. The micro-USB port (we are all waiting for the day when Bluetooth speakers move to Type-C!) is housed at the base and there is a single button for power, shutter and weirdly, only increasing the volume. There is an LED indicator that notifies you of your battery levels and whether there is a connection to any device or not. Finally, there are two tiny holes that can be used for a lanyard to securely hold the Click 2.

There is a metallic finish on the top, protecting speaker inside. The build quality is superb and one can't fault X-Mini at all. What X-Mini can be faulted for is the lack of IPX certification. This could have been handy while one is taking a shower (people are afraid of taking their smartphones) and it can also accidentally fall into the pool. IPX certification could have mitigated all those fears. Secondly, there is no pouch or protective case in the box.

A mighty sound that crackles when pushed

The Click 2 contains a single 36mm driver and has an audio output of 3 watts. Don't let that stat fool you. While one shouldn't expect pristine audio from a tiny device, one should expect a certain level of clarity. I'm happy to say that the Click 2 delivers on that. While listening to podcasts, or just enjoying some Prateek Kuhad type music, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of clarity, even at volumes pushing toward 80%. The soothing tones were a pleasure to listen to. Also, it was very useful in the evenings. When everyone around you is sleeping, having soft but clear sound is just what the doctor ordered.

It was when I switched to Iron Maiden or Metallica that I had an ear sore. Something that didn't go away for quite some time. Even at just 50% volume, I could hear some screeching - not just vocals but from the instruments. Crank it up even further and distortion goes to the max. Some may say crackling is okay for this kind of speaker but try listening just once and you'll notice just how bad it is.

The audio quality is a step above mediocre. Yes, there isn't bass, but one surely can't expect that in a speaker of this size. The bass on the low side works for Prateek Kuhad type of music. The Click 2 is aimed at a certain type of audience, and it delivers without much fault. It's when you expect to go outside the box that you're immediately disappointed.

Long story short. Play anything besides heavy metal and rock and you'll be impressed. Buy it for podcasts and you'd be mighty impressed. Expecting Vishal Dadlani to belt out tunes for you is just unrealistic.

Shutter and Battery

Yes. Strangely enough, the Click 2 has a shutter button. From around 5-10 metres, the Click 2 can double up and click photos without you having to fiddle with your smartphone. It's mostly a useless feature but there are some scenarios where it can come in handy. Nonetheless, it remains a gimmick and it won't help further the sales of the Click 2.

The single-multi functional button at the bottom is, at the end of the day, pretty useless. It can't do much beyond turning on and off the speaker, pair devices and turn the volume up.

The Click 2 has a 400mAh battery that is sufficient enough for 6 hours. Playing music continuously at 60% volume, I got to the 6-hour mark easily. Trying to experiment with the device and the kind of music it can play killed the battery in about five and a half hours. Not bad at all I'd say. On the plus size, the Click 2 doesn't take long to fully charge.

Verdict

The one positive that should be screamed from the top of a 15-floor building is the portability. The Click 2 is extremely portable and that USP is delivered on with full marks. Furthermore, it has a good design and could easily be given as a gift. Retailing at just Rs 1,799 on Amazon India makes it quite a good deal in today's market.

There are those that say that if one is willing to spend Rs 2,000 on a Bluetooth speaker, they'd be willing to up their budget to around Rs 5,000 and get more bang for their buck. While that is true, there is no denying that if your budget is contained to being below Rs 2,000, the Click 2 should be on top of your list. At times, it sounded better than the Logitech X50.

While competition is fierce in the budget segment, overlooking the Click 2 just because you think that a tiny speaker can't provide a loud sound, then you're making a grave mistake. The Click 2 isn't for everyone and X-Mini isn't even trying to sell it as a device for the masses. It's aimed at a specific audience and it does its job well.

Buy it, if you want a tiny speaker that you can carry in the palm of your hand or inside your jeans pocket. Just remember to pick it up before you leave the room. It's so tiny that one might just forget about where they last left it.

The Click 2 may not be the best speaker in the market by any margin, but its portability wins out above all else.