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HomePod Mini Helps Apple Nearly Double Its Market Share of Smart Speakers and Screens

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Amazon continues to lead the market for smart speakers and smart screens with devices like the Echo Dot and Echo Show, but Apple has nearly doubled its market share in this segment thanks to the HomePod mini, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

homepod-mini-thumb-feature.jpg

Strategy Analytics estimates that Apple shipped 4 million smart speakers in the third quarter of 2021, taking a 10.2% share of the combined smart speaker and smart screen market. Google's Nest Mini was the top-selling device in the segment, followed by the HomePod mini and Amazon's fourth-generation Echo Dot, the research firm said.

By comparison, Apple's market share for smart speakers and screens was estimated at 5.9% in the year-ago quarter, prior to the HomePod mini launching.

global-smart-speaker-smart-display-market-share-strategy-analytics-q3-2021.jpg

Apple is at a disadvantage in this particular report, as it does not compete in the smart screen market. In his latest newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expressed his belief that Apple should launch a larger iPad as a home hub to compete with devices like the Echo Show 15. It's unclear if Apple will ever release such a device, but Gurman did earlier this year report that Apple was exploring future iPads with larger display sizes.

As for the HomePod mini, the $99 speaker has not been updated since launching in October 2020, beyond getting new yellow, orange, and blue colors. Based on Apple's increased market share, the current ‌HomePod mini‌ appears to remain a success.

Article Link: HomePod Mini Helps Apple Nearly Double Its Market Share of Smart Speakers and Screens
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/12/20/homepod-mini-smart-speaker-market-share/
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dantracht

Cancelled
Sep 19, 2013
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The HP Mini is a great speaker, have a few, and an OG homepod pair. That being said, they have work to do, as has been written and discussed at length, if they are to really make a difference in this market.
 
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BuffaloTF

macrumors 68000
Jun 10, 2008
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I bought one of these for the old S’s and G’s. A curiosity buy. It’s vastly superior to all of my Echos. It doesn’t argue with me that there’s more than one device with the same name when there isn’t. It sounds as good as my much larger Echo 4th gen. It really has me contemplating a full replacement. It’s only drawback is that it doesn’t talk to 3rd party Hue-compatible lights. I only have 2 of those, but still…
 
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adamjackson

macrumors 68020
Jul 9, 2008
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A drop in MSRP of 70% ($99 versus $350) and they double marketshare. I wonder what Apple could do if they really competed.

HomePod - $29
Mini - $49
Max - $99

+ 3 free months access to Apple Music Voice Plan

They'd be the #1 smart speaker in the entire world and make all of that money lost or break even in Apple Music services sold.

A person would buy four minis for $200, then sign up for Apple Music for the next 5 years at $10 a month and Apple would make $400-$500 back on the long tail.
 
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djcerla

djcerla

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Apr 23, 2015
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I’m happy with it, but I would have bought a bigger, more expensive model instead (in Italy, the OG Homepod never got released).

The Mini sounds OKish, but it’s thin compared to the Bose Soundlink I had before. Siri & integration are useful, though.
 
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Jarutais

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Dec 23, 2020
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gaximus said:
Why would any one want that. I understand loosing all privacy for Google, because it works better than Siri, but not Alexa.
Click to expand...
Maybe because Alexa is the only one with a real ecosystem for developers to create apps for it?

Siri and Google assistant are only useful for interacting with home devices and your smartphone, while developers can create Alexa Skills that can do lots of things that Apple and Google are lacking
 
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MrGimper

MrGimper

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Sep 22, 2012
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longofest said:
I have to say, I've started to really buy into Amazon's Echo ecosystem. It's a good product that's affordable enough to buy enough of them to put in various reaches of my home. It integrates with my Apple Music subscription, and it works with SmartThings stuff as well.
Click to expand...
I'm all over Alexa.... pretty much drives my home. Sonos, Hue, Ring, Hive, Blink, Tapo smart plugs, TV, XBox etc etc etc
 
dmylrea

dmylrea

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Sep 27, 2005
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Because Apple people will clearly accept compromises on anything Apple to stay in their ecosystem?
The original Homepod was overpriced, didn't play nice with other services and devices, and then was discontinued and replaced with something too tiny that (physics says) it can't play decent sound.

I'd love to have an affordable HomePod that sounds great. Couple hundred bucks would be nice.
 
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gaximus

gaximus

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Oct 11, 2011
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Jarutais said:
Maybe because Alexa is the only one with a real ecosystem for developers to create apps for it?

Siri and Google assistant are only useful for interacting with home devices and your smartphone, while developers can create Alexa Skills that can do lots of things that Apple and Google are lacking
Click to expand...
Apple opened up Siri to developers in iOS 13, I have an app that allows me to control every part of my car, heat, door locks, navigation system, heated seats. I can tell Siri to get my car ready and it opens my garage door, puts my next meeting into the navigation, check the temperature, sets the climate control accordingly (heat/ac, heated seats, roll down windows, what ever is needed). All through Siri and Shortcuts, across multiple apps and HomeKit.

Its more expensive and limited(as far as wanting to switch) ecosystem, but I think its worth it. I don't trust Alexa, as its purpose is to get you to spend money with it, where Siri wants you to spend money on it.
 
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Jarutais

macrumors member
Dec 23, 2020
56
158
gaximus said:
Apple opened up Siri to developers in iOS 13, I have an app that allows me to control every part of my car, heat, door locks, navigation system, heated seats. I can tell Siri to get my car ready and it opens my garage door, puts my next meeting into the navigation, check the temperature, sets the climate control accordingly (heat/ac, heated seats, roll down windows, what ever is needed). All through Siri and Shortcuts, across multiple apps and HomeKit.

Its more expensive and limited(as far as wanting to switch) ecosystem, but I think its worth it. I don't trust Alexa, as its purpose is to get you to spend money with it, where Siri wants you to spend money on it.
Click to expand...
Yes, and people must know and download your app on their phone first. So probably your app must have some value proposition and the siri extension is just a complementary limited thing.
 
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Uofmtiger

Uofmtiger

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Dec 11, 2010
2,250
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Memphis
Personally, I liked the original HomePod and, for our use, I think the pricing made sense. It fills two rooms with music and it sounds better than any of these type of speakers that I have heard..including a similar priced Sony Bluetooth speaker than is nearly waist high in size. I realize I care more about SQ than the average person, though.

I also have a mini in the bedroom. I did try it in the area we have the Homepod and honestly it sounded thin and weak with no bass. On my nightstand it is great, though.

I also have Echo Dots since the control more home devices, but I prefer the sound of the minis and features like Handoff. The way it can control other Airplay2 speakers is great for when I want to move the audio (or combine the audio) to my living room main speakers.
 
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julesme

macrumors 6502a
Oct 14, 2016
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I might be the only one in this thread to feel this way, but here goes: I am not entirely comfortable with devices in my home that are listening 100% of the time, recording the audio, and sending it in for analysis.
 
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