Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Announces New HomePod for $299 With Full-Size Design, S7 Chip, and More
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The point was that the specs now seem to suggest you can do this without having homekit temperature sensors, and use the built in sensor which is now listed in the mini’s specs
A corded solution is definitely viable for those who really want the true home theater experience (zero latency, superior acoustic dynamics, etc). That said, I'm in my 40's and my hearing and vision are going, so I'll sacrifice some audio depth for convenience. Plus, I have to assume that new and improved wireless communications standards are being researched that will improve on those aspects. Factor that into more advanced computational analyses that can delay the video output to match the measured latency in the audio output, and we'll reach a point where the differences between a wired and wireless setup are all but immeasurable.
I’m confused, it’s the same thing, with a downgraded cpu and less speakers/microphones (so basically cheaper to make and worse at its job) sold for the same price than the failed first gen. No idea who’s supposed to buy it or why it wouldn’t flop again. Weird move.
Sound quality. That's it. The larger homepod, assuming it is similar to the OG, will blow the sound quality of the mini out of the water easily.I want to buy one, but on the other hand for the price of 1 full-sized HomePod I could also choose to buy 3 separate HomePod minis. That's 1 stereo pair for the TV + one more for the bedroom.
Can anybody think of a good reason why buying the larger speaker is better than buying 3 small ones for the same price? Need argumentation to convince myself and especially my wife
This to me is the most annoying thing about Apple. I know all corporations do it to a degree but they have an absolute 1984 level of thought control over how they communicate about their products.
I said long ago they made a mistake by canceling the HomePod as the Mini was the perfect gateway drug for it. It was even more puzzling because they had really improved the usefulness of the HomePod by its EoL and even afterwards.
IT does feel like there was something they didn't like about the original one. Maybe its cost structure was too high? Or maybe they discovered some other flaw.
IT does feel like there was something they didn't like about the original one. Maybe its cost structure was too high? Or maybe they discovered some other flaw.
Ah yeah that's fair. Apparently the sensor is in all mini hardware, just won't be enabled until a future software update.
interesting on so many levels!
So, absence makes the heart grown fonder - for sure many mini owners might now want the opportunity for the audio upgrade (though a pair of minis arent to be sniffed at).
HOWEVER, as many have pointed out.... £299? Isnt that just repeating the original mistake. Theres no huge leap in hardware in fact less tweeters and mics suggest a cheaper product surely that should have started at £199 or £249 tops... remembering it competes on a certain level with the Echo Studio which sounds amazing with atmos support itself.
I have 6 minis at home, 2 pairs, for whole home audio and might be tempted to upgrade some but the price does seem off-putting for a whim upgrade....
AND... biggest problem is.... software. The multi room experience even under 16.2 leaves a lot to be desired with reliability.
Perhaps 16.3 will fix things but thought that about 16.0... 16.1.... and then 16.2... fourth time lucky?
So, absence makes the heart grown fonder - for sure many mini owners might now want the opportunity for the audio upgrade (though a pair of minis arent to be sniffed at).
HOWEVER, as many have pointed out.... £299? Isnt that just repeating the original mistake. Theres no huge leap in hardware in fact less tweeters and mics suggest a cheaper product surely that should have started at £199 or £249 tops... remembering it competes on a certain level with the Echo Studio which sounds amazing with atmos support itself.
I have 6 minis at home, 2 pairs, for whole home audio and might be tempted to upgrade some but the price does seem off-putting for a whim upgrade....
AND... biggest problem is.... software. The multi room experience even under 16.2 leaves a lot to be desired with reliability.
Perhaps 16.3 will fix things but thought that about 16.0... 16.1.... and then 16.2... fourth time lucky?
Looks like this was true: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/22/homepod-mini-temperature-humidity-sensor/
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
Suspended
Not going to lie this thing is a beauty from inside and outside.
I am wondering the same thing, sort of. Can two HomePod minis be combined with one full-size HomePod to make a great-sounding speaker-group setup for a work area like a small office? That would be less expensive ($500) than two full-size HomePods ($600) and might balance out the bass and trebles nicely. Has anyone tried that setup?
That makes sense, never thought of it that way before! Hopefully there is a plan for this eventuality, would be an annoying lump of e-waste that actually does a great job (in my opinion anyway).
Three minis will still have no bass and sound dramatically worse. I have three and they’re a good kitchen or bathroom speaker but the big one in the main area is significantly louder, fuller, and has actual bass.I want to buy one, but on the other hand for the price of 1 full-sized HomePod I could also choose to buy 3 separate HomePod minis. That's 1 stereo pair for the TV + one more for the bedroom.
Can anybody think of a good reason why buying the larger speaker is better than buying 3 small ones for the same price? Need argumentation to convince myself and especially my wife
The OG had issues with heat dissipation that caused it to eat itself. It was also held back by the older chip. So in order for them to fix those and anything else they had to take time to figure it out, that's my best guess.
I still have my original HomePod from 2018, going strong. It's always updated automatically and never had any issues.
German seems to confirm the Temperature/Humidity sensor in the HomePod mini will be active as of the next software update.
I own two of the original, and we absolutely love them. Hopefully they are supported for a very long time.
Possibly an unpopular opinion... The Homepod isn't a fantastic sounding speaker. Yes, it is functionally cool and aesthetically good looking. However, it is not as great sounding as Apple makes it out to be.
I had two of the original Homepods and thoroughly loved them. When I got my first Sonos speaker (Sonos Move) I was blown away by the sound. Over time I have fully immersed my home with Sonos speakers. The ecosystem is very well done and the sound quality is incredible.
Apple makes amazing devices and I am an Apple fanatic. However, their audio and speaker ambitions are still far behind others.
I had two of the original Homepods and thoroughly loved them. When I got my first Sonos speaker (Sonos Move) I was blown away by the sound. Over time I have fully immersed my home with Sonos speakers. The ecosystem is very well done and the sound quality is incredible.
Apple makes amazing devices and I am an Apple fanatic. However, their audio and speaker ambitions are still far behind others.
I hope you realise that there is a weird, secret, but understood arbitrary limit of HomePods in one house of 6. Any more gives real issues with multi room options not working, going wrong and struggling.
I have 7 - I have issues.....
but i hope that 16.3 resolves them - are we even supposed to be buying more than 6 - Apple seemed to not think so!