Modern smart speakers, such as the Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker or the more compact Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker, are complex electronic devices where each element is tightly integrated into the housing. The need to disassemble the Xiaomi speaker most often occurs when the speaker fails, problems with the microphone module or, less often, if you want to modify the device to work with alternative software.
The body is a complex architecture, including a circuit board, passive cooling system and an acoustic system that requires tightness. Any careless movement can damage the plumes or break contacts, making further repairs economically inefficient, which is why you need to be aware of the risks and have a specialized tool at hand before any work begins.
The dismantling process requires patience and care, as manufacturers use different types of mounts, including hidden screws and a strong adhesive layer. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the stages of disassembling popular models, point out typical errors and provide comprehensive information about the internal device.
Tools and workplace preparation required
A smart speaker is not enough to disassemble a smart speaker safely and efficiently, and you need a set of precision tools designed to work with small electronics, a set of interchangeable bit screwdrivers, including cross-plate PH0s, PH00s and flat slits, and plastic mediators or scapula blades that will not damage the plastic.
Special attention should be paid to tools for working with adhesives. Often the bottom of the case or the speaker mesh is planted on industrial glue, which requires heating. This is ideal for a hair dryer or a special heating pad that allows you to evenly warm the surface to a temperature of 60-80 degrees Celsius. Tweezers with curved ends will help to extract small screws and disconnect the plumes.
☑️ Preparation for disassembly
The organization of the workspace is not the last role. It is recommended to use an antistatic mat to eliminate the risk of damage to electronics by a static discharge. All screws and small parts are better folded into a magnetic tray or numbered cells, since in Xiaomi devices there may be screws of different lengths, and confusing them means damage to the thread or body during assembly.
Design features of Xiaomi smart speakers
Xiaomi engineers are guided by the principles of minimalism and aesthetics in their acoustic systems, which often comes at the expense of maintainability. Most models, whether Mi Smart Speaker Pro or younger versions, are built according to the “sandwich” scheme, where the upper and lower parts are connected in a hidden way, visually fasteners are absent, which creates the illusion of monolithic design.
The main components are the speaker system (low frequency speaker and high frequency tweeter), the power supply and motherboard with a processor and communication modules. The speakers are often glued to the body or pressed with special plastic fixtures. The microphone group that provides voice control is usually put on a separate board at the top of the device and connected to the main module with a long plume.
⚠️ Warning: There are no custom replaceables inside the column, such as batteries (in wired versions) All connections are soldered or pressed, which requires high skills to recover.
It is important to note the differences in design across generations of devices: older models may have screws under rubber legs at the bottom, while newer versions have completely switched to adhesive joint. Understanding this difference helps to choose the right opening strategy and avoid breaking latches, which in Xiaomi smart speakers are made of fragile plastic.
Step-by-step algorithm for opening the body
You should start the disassembly process with a thorough external inspection. Turn the column over and examine the bottom carefully. If you find rubber legs, gently tuck their edges with a needle or a thin blade and remove them. They often hide screws that hold the bottom cover. If there are no screws, then the body is assembled on glue.
To decouple the adhesive, you need to warm the perimeter of the joint between the top and bottom evenly. Use a hair dryer to move it around so you don't overheat one point. The plastic should get warm, but it won't melt. After warming up, insert the plastic blade into the joint and, with neat swaying movements, move around in a circle, gradually weakening the adhesive layer.
The secrets of working with glue
When the case is opened, don't rush to tear the halves off abruptly. Check for connecting plumes that link the control boards, buttons or indicators to the motherboard. Often the plumes pass through narrow channels and have fragile connectors. They need to be disconnected by bent the connector's locking mechanism or by carefully pulling the tongue if it is designed.
Dismantling of dynamic system and electronics
Once you remove the lid, you'll have access to the main speaker, which is mounted on screws or plastic latches around the perimeter in most Xiaomi models. You can unscrew the mount, you can remove the dynamic head. You can notice the wires that go to the speakers' contacts, which can be soldered directly to the board or connected through the connector.
The motherboard is usually mounted on screws to the inner frame of the case, and before removing it, you need to disconnect all the cables: power, button plumes, microphone array and antennas. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. The antenna wires are often simply inserted into the connectors with force or soldered, which requires special care when dismantling.
| Component | Type of attachment | Risks in dismantling | Tool. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom cover. | Glue/Spins | Plastic cracks, plume rupture | Fen, spatula |
| Dynamician | Screws/Glue | Wire break, diffuser damage | Screwdriver, tweezers. |
| Maternity fee | Screws, latches. | Connector damage, statics | Dielectric tweezers |
| Microphone module | Shleif/Clay | Thin plume break | Tweezers, spatula. |
If your goal is to replace the speaker, make sure the new component has identical resistance characteristics (usually 4 Ohms or 8 Ohms) and dimensions. Installing the speaker with different parameters can overload the amplifier on the board and it fails.
Typical malfunctions and methods of their elimination
One of the most common problems that smart speakers face is wheezing or not having a sound at all, often not because of a breakdown in the electronics, but because of mechanical damage to the speaker diffuser or detachment of the coil, and in such cases, replacing the speaker is the only effective solution.
Another common problem is that the speaker stops responding to voice commands or sees a Wi-Fi network with great delays. This may indicate the departure of the antenna cable or the oxidation of the contacts of the microphone group. In high humidity conditions (for example, in the kitchen), the contacts can be covered with an oxide film that can be carefully removed with alcohol and a soft brush.
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Before soldering new wires, be sure to get the contacts and use flux gel. Acid fluxes are forbidden to use, as they will eventually destroy the contacts.
If the device doesn’t turn on at all, the problem may lie in the power blo or in the circuit of protection on the motherboard. Checking the voltage at the input contacts of the board with a multimeter will help to localize the malfunction. However, repairing the power chains requires a deep knowledge of electronics and the presence of a circuit of the device, which Xiaomi does not officially provide.
⚠️ Warning: When checking circuits under voltage, observe safety precautions. The voltage in the power supply of the column can reach 12-19 Volts that are safe for humans, but dangerous for delicate components of the board when short-circuited with probes.
Assembly of the device and check of performance
The assembly process is reversed, but it has its nuances. Before you connect the halves of the body, you need to do a preliminary check. Connect all the plumes and cables, then briefly power. If the speaker has issued a welcome sound and the indicators are on fire, then the connection is correctly done.
When gluing the body, use a special plastic glue, such as the B-7000 or T-7000. Apply a thin layer of glue around the perimeter, avoiding hitting speakers and boards. Once the parts of the body are connected, the device must be fixed with rubber harnesses or load for several hours until the glue is completely dry.
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The quality of the case gluing directly affects the acoustic properties of the column. Smooth parts can cause resonance and rattling when playing low frequencies.
The final step is to test all the features, whether it's Wi-Fi, whether it's running at different distances, or whether it's sounding at maximum volume, so if all the systems are working properly, the device can be considered restored, or you'll have to repeat the disassembly procedure to find screws that aren't twisted or connectors that aren't fit.