First Impressions From HomePod Mini Customers: 'The Sound Quality is Great'

[CarlJ]

The main disappointment for me is that it's not portable (no battery) and it's not water resistant.

The HomePod mini should have been the answer to WonderBoom Ultimate Ears.

I would have loved to take my HomePod mini outside in the Summer in the garden or to a barbecue/garden party.

No. You’re looking for an entirely different product. There are thousands of Bluetooth speakers that will do exactly what you want, including some from Apple’s Beats brand. This is targeted at people who want a HomePod but smaller and less expensive.

 

[CausticSoda]

I wonder why they do not have a deeper base with a battery inside to provide a wireless option. Just think of all the frustration from people who can't have them just where they want them without long cables stretching around the place. I am sure there is a good reason, because no doubt Apple considered this. I would be interested to know why they didn't go for that. It would also allow for easy use outside.

 

[CarlJ]

I don't know if you are aware, but your garden is part of your home. 🤦‍♂️

Then you can damn well run a power cord out to this garden of yours.

 

[AngerDanger]

I always found it hilarious when theyd run TV ads on TV - pic you look at it and think, “wow, that picture on their screen looks amazing”, then you don’t need it.

Yeah! Like, they have to purposely desaturate the competitors' TVs so they can take full advantage of your TV's color gamut to advertise their TVs.

 

[B/D]

Setting up HP’s as TV’s default speakers is buggy and less useful. Every time I navigate through apps and menu options, I keep hearing a crackling noise.

If I keep the default audio setting to TV speakers but manually change the output using the control panel to play sound through my HomePods, I can tell my HP to stop/pause video playback. Oddly, the clicking sounds when navigating apps come through on my TV speakers with this setup... but at least it eliminates the annoying crackling noises.

ATV retains this audio setting and I consistently hear music and video through my HomePods (except clicking sounds when navigating apps) so I’m not sure what the point of having the option to set HomePods as the default TV speakers actually accomplishes other than confusing and annoying the heck out of users.

Having the Homepods set as the ATV default output speaker as of now, only have one (big), advantage over selecting them via the ATV control center: since it routes ALL of ATV audio through the Homepods, it can bypass some Airplay audio limitations, like using the Homepods with Apple TV video games or IPTV/live tv apps (like Sling), which currently doesn´t support regular Airplay audio because of the latency.

Given that choosing the Homepods as the default ATV output creates an ad-hoc, improved airplay connection, this latency can be eliminated, which makes this the optimal way to use the homepods with your ATV.

However, as you say, currently the implementation of this feature (default audio output of an ATV 4K), is very buggy, and selecting the Homepods via the control center airplay menu is adecuate for most uses.

 

[cjbryce]

I feel that it not being able to access 4 of the top 5 most popular radio stations in the UK (BBC) might hold it back a little here. Not sure if this is down to Apple or the BBC? Amazon and Google speakers can play them as far as I'm aware.

AIUI it’s the BBC - apparently they want data Apple won’t share.

 

[CarlJ]

There are other speakers of similar size that do have batteries, so I’d say it’s a valid point, regardless of how Apple chooses to brand its speakers.

It’s not like there’s a lot of unused empty space inside the HomePod Mini - if you put batteries (of a sufficient quantity to be useful) into the speaker, you either have to make the chassis bigger, or the driver smaller. Neither would fit with their goals here.

 

[CarlJ]

Again, 🤦🏼‍♂️

No extension cord needed, just a portable battery.

So plug it into a ****ing battery pack? 🤦🏼‍♂️

 

[kevingaffney]

All irrelevant if you happen to be living where I am in Ireland. HomePod hasn’t even been released her so doubt the mini ever will. I’ll have to take a spin up to Belfast whenever allowed

 

[groovyf]

Mine arrives tomorrow and I’m absolutely buzzing for it. Am I expecting it to blow my mind in terms of sound - absolutely not. But for 100 quid, I think it’ll be great. I have a wonderboom and if it sounds better than that I’ll be happy.

I work from home so to have that in the room opposite my desk is going to be great. I’m taking it and will enjoy it for what it is - a small smart speaker that packs a decent punch and is very capable for day to day listening. The added stuff like Siri, intercom etc is just a bonus for me.

Please let us know how it fares against the Wonderboom. I’ve one in the bedroom and the HP Mini is what I’m wanting to replace it with.
It’s a cracking little speaker from Logitech and, like you, if it matches and improves on it it I’ll be happy.

 

[CarlJ]

Yeah that guy is bit of a drama queen.

Or he’s doing it to “increase viewer engagement”.

 

[Joniz]

Plus, they'd need speakers as good as the better of the two speakers.

Otherwise it's like comparing a black and white TV to a color TV in a black and white video.

I always thought it was odd, in the old B&W movies, when one character mentions the color of the other character’s hair.

How could they tell?!

 

[MiamiC70]

Today is HomePod mini launch day in the United States and nine other countries, and as orders begin arriving to customers, first impressions of the speaker are beginning to surface on the web. While we've already seen HomePod mini reviews from media outlets and YouTubers, customer opinions provide additional perspective.

HomePod mini photo shot by Oliur​

MacRumors forum member "boultonn" said the HomePod mini "really is mini," yet delivers "great" sound for a study room. They also complimented the HomePod mini's simple setup process, which involves plugging in the speaker, holding an iPhone or iPad near the speaker, and following the onscreen instructions on the iPhone or iPad.

UK-based developer Matt Cheetham said "the sound quality is great," a sentiment shared by Tokyo-based developer Enrico Pangan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328297061939294209

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328322587546460161

Of course, not everyone has been as impressed. UK-based writer and PR director Max Tatton-Brown said that he was "deeply underwhelmed" by his HomePod mini.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328347557672722432

UK-based designer and photographer Oliur had a mixed opinion. He said that the HomePod mini has "amazing" sound quality that "can get loud," but he added that it "lacks bass," which he said "makes sense" since it's a small speaker.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1328305603937185792

Last week, KTLA tech reporter Rich DeMuro tested the sound quality of the HomePod mini and Google's Nest Audio speakers, both priced at $99. While the video is a rather trivial way of comparing audio, many users who commented on the video believed the HomePod mini was the better sounding of the two.

HomePod mini offers many features of the full-size HomePod, including Siri, HomeKit, Apple Music, Intercom voice messaging, and stereo pairing, but a few customers have been surprised to learn that HomePod minis cannot be set as the Apple TV's default audio output, something that is only possible with the full-size HomePod.

HomePod mini pre-orders began November 6 in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The speaker will also be available in China, Mexico, and Taiwan later this year.

Article Link: First Impressions From HomePod Mini Customers: 'The Sound Quality is Great'

How important is speed when no software fully supports the platform or hardware? Even with Intel chipset macOS support for gaming etc. was abysmal.

 

[Rogifan]

Something this small should not need to be plugged in all the time. It should be truly portable.

Homepod could never replace a sound bar with subwoofer. Apple should make something like that where they can really focus on sound quality and the product is less about AI smarts.

 

[theaudiobully87]

Please let us know how it fares against the Wonderboom. I’ve one in the bedroom and the HP Mini is what I’m wanting to replace it with.
It’s a cracking little speaker from Logitech and, like you, if it matches and improves on it it I’ll be happy.

I will do buddy. As soon as it arrives I’ll run an album through it and report back.

 

[MiamiC70]

Something this small should not need to be plugged in all the time. It should be truly portable.

Homepod could never replace a sound bar with subwoofer. Apple should make something like that where they can really focus on sound quality and the product is less about AI smarts.

Umm, my two paired HomePods and 12" reference subwoofer would disagree.

Also, is what what you are thinking that the smaller the device the better the battery life is?

 

[dwaltwhit]

Has anyone used them as a stereo pair with an apple tv?

 

[CarlJ]

I always thought it was odd, in the old B&W movies, when one character mentions the color of the other character’s hair.

How could they tell?!

 

[matty2345]

I don't know if you are aware, but your garden is part of your home. 🤦‍♂️

I was going to say similar that it's a 'Home'Pod... but not meant in a sarcastic way at all, but I guess portability just isn't the intention of it.

When you set it up you also select which 'room' it's going to be in - so I suppose Apple intend you to keep it in one place.

That's not to say you're request of something more portal isn't valid - of course it is - but I guess there are many other portable speakers out there that would do the job. They wouldn't have 'Hey Siri' built in like HomePod, but then in the garden or in a park you will have your phone most likely in your hand or on your person, so the need to communicate with the speaker in the same way as in your home is different.

Would have been cool, but I guess just Apple's design decision ultimately.

 

[mcdawg]

It’s literally called the HomePod, this is like complaining that you can‘t take an iMac to a Starbucks because it’s not portable like a laptop. Thats not its designed purpose. Maybe one day they’ll consider making something like that but this definitely isn’t it, as the name implies.

Maybe they'll make one for the go, and call it a Porta-Pod-y. 🤷‍♂️

 

[CarlJ]

Something this small should not need to be plugged in all the time. It should be truly portable.

if it were this small and they put a battery in it, they'd have to put a smaller driver in it, and all of Prince’s music would sound quieter and more tinny.

Technically, it doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time. Only when you want to listen to it. And it could be plugged into a USB-C battery pack of whatever size seems appropriate to you.

 

[johnmed]

Had this been battery powered I’d have bought one for my bathroom.

A lot of people sell their used HomePods for not much more than this RRP. I bought one new, and one used. Can’t tell which is which.

If space isn’t an issue, I’d recommend people buy two used full-size HomePods if they want bass too.

 

[MiamiC70]

Something this small should not need to be plugged in all the time. It should be truly portable.

Homepod could never replace a sound bar with subwoofer. Apple should make something like that where they can really focus on sound quality and the product is less about AI smarts.

if it were this small and they put a battery in it, they'd have to put a smaller driver in it, and all of Prince’s music would sound quieter and more tinny.

Technically, it doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time. Only when you want to listen to it. And it could be plugged into a USB-C battery pack of whatever size seems appropriate to you.

Please don't bother explaining basic science and engineering in this forum.

 

[mpetrides]

If you live in an apartment and want to upgrade from built-in TV speakers? This is basically a $200 "smart" 2.0 system. Apple is saying you need to spend $400 for that I guess.

I don't get the arbitrary software crap on these. Can't use the mini as TV speakers but the full size on you can. Neither one can be paired via Bluetooth even though they have the radio. This is all software gimping and there is no reason for it to exist.

You CAN use the HomePod mini in place of the TV’s built-in speakers. You WILL get improved sound quality. However, because the HomePod mini does not have Spatial Awareness, you can not get Dolby Atmos or even 5.1 or 7.1 sound out of the HomePod mini. Sheesh.

 

[Axiboy]

The main disappointment for me is that it's not portable (no battery) and it's not water resistant.

The HomePod mini should have been the answer to WonderBoom Ultimate Ears.

I would have loved to take my HomePod mini outside in the Summer in the garden or to a barbecue/garden party.

This was EXACTLY my hope as well. We have the UE Megaboom we always used outside. I take the HomePod out if we're going to be sitting for a while, but for short-term listening that's just a pain.