The Apple HomePod mini is a smaller, more lightweight version of the discontinued Apple HomePod (1st generation). It's a smart home speaker with a 360-degree design to fill the space around you with your favorite tunes. Its sleek style also fits in easily with your existing living room decor. Thanks to built-in Siri, you can control its output with only your voice, meaning you can enjoy hands-free listening around your home.
Our Verdict
The Apple HomePod mini is acceptable for music. It reproduces voices and lead instruments with accuracy, so it's suitable for most genres. There's a little extra punch in the high-bass to bring bass-heavy sounds like EDM and hip-hop to life. However, you can't customize its output, and it doesn't get loud enough to fill larger and more open spaces with sound.
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Not a lot of compression at max volume.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Apple HomePod mini isn't really designed for watching movies, but it's fine if you just want to watch videos from a paired smartphone. Its AirPlay latency is low enough that you don't notice lip-synching issues. However, this speaker can't reproduce a deep cinematic bass, and it doesn't get loud enough for larger spaces.
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Low latency on Apple AirPlay.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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No Bluetooth pairing.
The Apple HomePod mini is acceptable for podcasts. Thanks to the accurate reproduction of voices in the mid-range, it's easy to follow along with your favorite shows. You can even use its built-in voice assistant features to control it hands-free. It's loud enough for an average-sized living room; however, if you have a larger space in mind, it's not quite as suitable.
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Not a lot of compression at max volume.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Apple HomePod mini is good for voice assistant support. It has built-in support for Siri, which you can activate with your voice. It can easily understand you from far away, though it doesn't perform as well if you're in a noisy setting. While it doesn't come with a physical mic mute button, you can mute Siri using your voice and press and hold its control panel for a few seconds to unmute it.
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Built-in Siri.
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Excellent far-field performance.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Apple HomePod mini isn't designed for outdoor use due to its wired design.
- 6.4 Music
- 5.6 Videos/Movies
- 6.4 Podcasts
- 8.5 Voice Assistant
- 4.4 Outdoors
- Updated Nov 24, 2023: Minor text edits for clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Aug 22, 2023: Added market comparison with the Amazon Echo Pop in the Soundstage box.
- Updated Dec 15, 2022: Updated the review for clarity and consistency.
- Updated Oct 18, 2022: Changed the 'Microphone Mute' test result from 'No' to 'Yes' in the voice assistant box after retesting the speaker. Also added information about dismissing an alarm in the 'Controls' box.
- Updated Oct 13, 2022: Changed 'Call Answer/End' test result from 'No' to 'Yes (Tactile)', and 'Additional Controls' from 'No' to 'Yes' in the 'Controls' box after retesting the speaker. Also added information about muting/unmuting Siri. Minor adjustments to text for consistency.
- Updated Dec 13, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jan 19, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 14, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Jan 08, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jan 07, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker comes in 'Space Gray', 'White', 'Blue', 'Orange', and 'Yellow'. We expect them to perform similarly. We tested the 'Space Gray' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Apple HomePod mini is a smaller version of the discontinued Apple HomePod (1st generation) with a lighter, more spherical design. It also has built-in support for Siri, and its microphone can understand you clearly even if you aren't close to the speaker. However, it struggles to reproduce low-bass and doesn't get very loud. Unlike the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4, there's no physical mic mute button, but you can mute Siri with your voice when you want more privacy.
See also our recommendations for the best smart speakers, the best home speakers, and the best speakers for iPhone.
The Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is better than the Apple HomePod mini. The 2nd generation HomePod speaker is larger, so it can reproduce a lot more rumble in the low-bass, and it gets louder. Plus, it has a built-in room correction microphone to automatically optimize its audio based on your room's unique acoustics, which the mini lacks.
The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is a better speaker for voice assistant support than the Apple HomePod mini overall. The Amazon has a better ambient noise performance, so it can understand you better in noisy settings. Also, it has bass and treble adjustments for customizing its sound. However, the Apple is better for music and videos, as it has a more neutral sound profile out of the box and a better soundstage.
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a better voice assistant speaker than the Apple HomePod mini. The Amazon has better ambient noise performance, so it can understand you more clearly in noisy settings. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound and can produce a deeper bass than the Apple. It comes with Alexa built-in, but if you prefer Siri, go for the Apple instead.
The Google Nest Audio and the Apple HomePod mini are very similar speakers overall. The Google comes with Google Assistant built-in and offers bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound profile to your liking. That said, the Apple has a wider and more spacious-sounding soundstage.
The Apple HomePod mini is a better choice for music and videos than the Google Nest Mini, as its default sound profile is better balanced with a more extended low-bass, and it has a better soundstage performance. That said, the Google offers bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound to your liking. The Apple comes with Siri built-in, while the Google features Google Assistant.
The Sonos One Gen 2/One SL and the Apple HomePod mini are similar speakers. The Sonos can produce a more extended low bass with its Trueplay room correction feature enabled. Its companion app also features bass and treble adjustments you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. However, the Apple has better directivity, resulting in a wider, more natural soundstage. While it doesn't get as loud as the Sonos, it has less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.
The Sonos Roam/Roam SL is a better speaker than the Apple HomePod mini. The Sonos is more portable and better built, and it also gets louder. Its voice assistant performance is better with its Roam variant, and the speaker has bass and treble adjustments. Also, it supports Bluetooth. However, the Apple speaker has a better soundstage performance.
The JBL Flip 5 and the Apple HomePod mini are designed for different uses. The JBL is a portable, battery-powered Bluetooth speaker with an IPX7 rating for water resistance that certifies it to be immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It's designed to be taken along with you on the go and can get a bit louder than the Apple. The Apple is a Wi-Fi speaker with Siri built-in and is designed for use at home. It needs to remain plugged into an outlet to work. It has less compression present at max volume and offers a wider-sounding soundstage. Its Apple Home companion app is also only available with iOS devices.
The Amazon Echo Studio is a better speaker than the Apple HomePod mini. The Amazon can get louder with less compression at max volume, so your audio sounds mostly clean at louder volumes. It has Alexa built-in and can understand your commands from far away. You can connect your audio source to the speaker via Bluetooth, and the speaker also has a Zigbee hub built-in, so you can connect and control compatible smart home devices like lightbulbs or thermostats using Alexa. The Apple speaker has built-in Siri, which some iOS users may prefer.
The Apple HomePod (1st generation) is a better speaker than the Apple HomePod mini. The HomePod has a more neutral sound profile and gets louder, too. Also, its built-in Siri has a better ambient noise performance, so it does a better job understanding your voice in noisy settings. The HomePod mini has a smaller, more lightweight design that some listeners may prefer. It's also easier to find on the market since the Apple HomePod has been discontinued.
The Apple HomePod mini is a larger and more premium speaker than the Amazon Echo Pop. The Apple is better built, offering a better low-frequency extension in the bass. Its 360-degree design means it offers clear sound from all angles, too. However, it's not Bluetooth compatible and has no sound customization features like the Amazon speaker.
Depending on your preferences, you may go for either the Apple HomePod mini or the Sonos Roam 2. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, it makes sense to add on the HomePod since it supports Siri, and there's a built-in speakerphone option, which is great for taking calls. Both speakers support Apple AirPlay, though, and the HomePod is strictly a home speaker since it has to be wired to work. In contrast, the Sonos has the edge for portability. It's a Bluetooth speaker, and while its battery life isn't particularly long-lasting and doesn't get very loud, it's still a solid choice for use outdoors, especially as it's certified IP67 for resistance against dust and water.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Bose SoundLink Revolve or the Apple HomePod mini. The Bose is a Bluetooth speaker that's Battery-powered and better built, so you can easily carry it along with you when you're on the go. While it uses the voice assistants from your smartphone, it has little trouble understanding your commands from far and in noisier settings. The Apple is a home speaker that comes with Siri built-in, which some users may prefer.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker than the Apple HomePod mini overall. The Bose is a stereo Bluetooth speaker that can get louder and produce a more extended low-bass than the Apple. There are bass and treble adjustments in its companion app to tweak its sound to your liking. It also offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in and has no trouble understanding your commands. However, the Apple comes with Siri built-in, which some Apple users may prefer. It also has better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage.
The Sonos Five is a better speaker for music than the Apple HomePod mini. It can get louder than the Apple and can produce a thumpy and rumbling low-bass which may please fans of bass-heavy music. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound to your liking. However, the Apple comes with Siri built-in and can understand your commands from far and in noisy settings. It also has significantly less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.
Test Results
As its name implies, this speaker is a smaller version of the Apple HomePod (1st generation). It has a spherical design, and it's wrapped in seamless mesh fabric for a sleek look. On top, there's a backlit touch surface with the speaker's controls. This speaker comes in lots of different color variants, too.
It isn't very portable, but that's expected for a home speaker. You need to keep it plugged into a power outlet for it to work.
This speaker has a similar feel to the Apple HomePod (1st generation). Its materials feel solid, with sturdy mesh around the edges and a sleek glass top. Remember that this home speaker isn't meant to withstand the elements and isn't rated for water resistance. Be careful if you plan to use it near water, like in a kitchen or a bathroom.
The controls are great. A touch-sensitive glass surface on the top of the speaker lets you play/pause your audio and adjust the volume. You can double-tap the top to skip to the next track and triple-tap the top to skip to the previous track. If you're receiving a call while you're already on an ongoing call, you can put it on hold by tapping and holding the green light on its control panel and double-tap it to switch calls. You can end a call by tapping the green light once. Also, you can touch and hold the top of the glass surface to activate Siri. Since there's no physical control to mute Siri, you can mute it with a voice command. You can then unmute it by pressing into the glass and holding it for a few seconds. You can also dismiss an alarm by tapping the middle of the glass. If you have VoiceOver enabled in the Accessibility settings, double-tap to activate it. With VoiceOver enabled, all other gestures will require one extra tap, so, for example, pausing will require two taps.
- Apple HomePod mini (with built-in cable)
- Quick start guide
- AC adapter with USB-C port
This speaker's sound is fairly even and balanced, making it suitable for listening to most types of audio content. Voices and lead instruments in the mid-range are clear and detailed. There's even a touch of extra warmth in the high-bass. However, as with most small speakers, this device can't bring the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass, which is noticeable with genres like EDM and hip-hop. A larger speaker like the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is a good option if you want more bass.
This speaker has fantastic directivity thanks to its 360-degree design. Your audio is consistent from all angles. That said, like the Amazon Echo Pop, it needs to be connected to another unit to play stereo audio.
This small speaker doesn't get very loud. It can fill an average-sized living room with sound but struggles in larger, more open spaces. Again, a larger speaker like the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is worth a look if you want a louder speaker.
This speaker has Apple's Siri built-in. You can activate it with your voice, and it does an excellent job of understanding your commands from far away. That said, unlike the Apple HomePod (1st generation), it has more trouble picking up your voice in noisier environments. While there's no physical mic mute button, you can mute Siri with your voice and unmute it by pressing it into the glass and holding it for a few seconds.
The Apple Home app is okay. You can use it to pair your speaker with other Apple HomePods to create a stereo pair, play your music through a large area, or listen to different audio in different rooms in your house. Unfortunately, no sound customization features are available, but this is typical of Apple speakers.
The Apple HomePod mini has no wired inputs other than its non-detachable charging cable.
According to the manufacturer, this speaker has Bluetooth 5.0, but you can't use it for pairing or playing audio. Instead, you can use it for audio handoff, which lets you transfer audio from your iPhone to the speaker by tapping your device on the top.
Apple AirPlay makes it easy to stream audio from other Apple devices. You get low latency, too, so you don't notice lip-synching issues between the audio you hear and the video you see on screen.