Reviewers loved the Apple HomePod mini, recommending it for music, podcasts, and voice assistant. They were delighted by its voice-activated built-in Sire voice assistant, low audio quality compression, and remarkably portable design. However, they were displeased that it didn’t get very loud.
The Apple HomePod mini is a 2017-model mid-range wired smart speaker that promises advanced voice assistant functions for indoor users. Weighing just 0.7 lbs, this speaker is remarkably lightweight, just like some of the highest-rated speakers today.
It has built-in Siri, supporting voice activation. This speaker has good soundstage performance, and it pairs via AirPlay, streaming music wirelessly. Examine the features of the Apple HomePod mini and see our Amazon Echo Studio review if you prefer an Alexa-equipped device.
Consensus
our Verdict
Critics were impressed by the Apple HomePod mini, approving it for podcasts, music, and voice assistant functionality. Reviewers at What Hifi loved its built-in Sire voice assistant, although it lacks a mute button.
Analysts at Sound Guys love its remarkable 0.7-lbs design and speakerphone functions. This device connects over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands via AirPlay, and testers recorded an outstanding 11 ms AirPlay latency.
With a 70.3Hz to 17.7 kHz frequency response range and relatively neutral -0.41 slope, this device produces refined sounds, although it has poor low bass, struggling with movies during testing.
It has a 360° design and clocked in at an excellent 1.30 dB in directivity index tests, providing an excellent soundstage performance. However, it doesn’t get very loud, featuring a 76.7 dB SPL at the maximum volume.
Its 1.36 dB DRC at the maximum volume shows little audio quality deterioration, though. Also, check out the best soundbar for music in our detailed post.
Reason to Buy
Built-in Siri
Wireless AirPlay streaming with low latency
Neutral audio out of the box
Remarkably compact, portable design
Little audio quality compression at high volume settings
The Apple HomePod mini is a 2017-model mid-range wired smart speaker that promises advanced voice assistant functions for indoor users. Weighing just 0.7 lbs, this…
The Apple HomePod mini is a 2017-model mid-range wired smart speaker that promises advanced voice assistant functions for indoor users. Weighing just 0.7 lbs, this speaker is remarkably lightweight, just like some of the highest-rated speakers today.
It has built-in Siri, supporting voice activation. This speaker has good soundstage performance, and it pairs via AirPlay, streaming music wirelessly. Examine the features of the Apple HomePod mini and see our Amazon Echo Studio review if you prefer an Alexa-equipped device.
The Apple Homepod portable speaker boasts a more neutral 0.19 frequency response slope, producing more natural-sounding music than the Apple HomePod mini, which has a…
The Apple Homepod portable speaker boasts a more neutral 0.19 frequency response slope, producing more natural-sounding music than the Apple HomePod mini, which has a -0.41 slope. The HomePod has an 88.5 dB SPL at the maximum volume, getting significantly louder than the Apple HomePod mini, which has a 76.7 dB maximum SPL. However, the 0.7-lb mini is much more portable, appealing more to on-the-go users than the 5.5-lb HomePod. Check out the Apple HomePod review to examine the specs of the HomePod.
Featuring better voice recognition accuracy in noisy environments, the Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a better voice assistant than the Apple HomePod mini. The Echo…
Featuring better voice recognition accuracy in noisy environments, the Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a better voice assistant than the Apple HomePod mini. The Echo 4 has a mic mute button, which is lacking on the Apple HomePod mini.
While the Apple HomePod mini lacks a mic mute button, the Google Nest Audio boasts a mute button. Thanks to bass and treble adjustments, the…
While the Apple HomePod mini lacks a mic mute button, the Google Nest Audio boasts a mute button. Thanks to bass and treble adjustments, the Google device is more customizable than the Apple HomePod mini, which lacks EQ settings.
