HomePod Mini Reviews: 'Remarkably Big Sound' Despite Compact Design

[MacRumors]

HomePod mini reviews have now been shared by media outlets and YouTubers, providing us with the first impressions of the speaker's sound quality and design. We've rounded up some opinions of the speaker below. For more video reviews, see here.

Image: Matthew Moniz​

HomePod mini is equipped with the same S5 chip as the Apple Watch Series 5, which Apple says allows the speaker to "analyze the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimize loudness, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real time."
Sound Quality

TechCrunch's Brian Heater said the HomePod mini delivers "remarkably big sound" given its size:

I've used a lot of different smart speakers in my day, and honestly, I'm really impressed with the sound the company was able to get out of the 3.3-inch device.

It's full and clear and impressively powerful for its size.

Fast Company's Michael Grothaus offered similar accolades:

Yet despite its much lower cost and smaller size, the HomePod Mini sounds phenomenal compared to other similarly priced speakers I've used. Even with the volume at only 40%, the HomePod Mini's sounds fill up my large living room richly and evenly.

Indeed, the sound blew me away when I first started streaming tunes. It didn't sound far off from the quality you hear from the original HomePod, yet it sounded twice as good to my ears to the similarly sized sub-$150 wireless speakers I'm used to hearing. After listening to the HomePod Mini for only a few days, when I went back to my old JBL wireless speakers—and even the speakers on my 16" MacBook Pro (which are fantastic speakers for a laptop)—both now seem tinny in comparison to the quality of the sound from the HomePod Mini.

In his YouTube review, Marques Brownlee likewise said the HomePod mini delivers "big sound":

Not everyone was equally impressed. The Verge's Dan Seifert said that while the HomePod mini sounds good, it doesn't sound as good as similarly priced competitors like the Amazon Echo and Google's Nest Audio:

So it sounds good, but I can't say the HomePod mini sounds great. And next to the larger Echo and Nest Audio, both of which cost the same, it simply can't keep up. It doesn't have the presence, volume, or sound stage of either, and it certainly can't match the Echo's bass output. As they say, there's no replacement for displacement.

Design

Forbes' David Phelan said the HomePod mini has a "cool, compact design" that is unmistakably HomePod with its mesh covering:

It's still unmistakably a HomePod though, with the familiar mesh covering that's soft to the touch, not that you'll be touching it all that much. And it comes in the same two colors as the original: a dark, smokey gray that's nearly black but softer-looking, called Space Gray, and white. The white isn't really white, because of the slightly darker color behind the mesh, making for a subtle but appealing look. Both are attractive and more or less indistinguishable from the HomePod shades.

Reviews confirm that the HomePod mini cable ends with a USB-C port for use with the included 20W power adapter in the box.

The Verge's Dan Seifert found the HomePod mini's touch control surface is harder to see from across a room than the Amazon Echo's glowing ring:

In my testing, I've found this light-up panel to be harder to see from across the room than the Echo's glowing ring. Unless you’re right next to the HomePod mini, it's hard to tell when Siri has heard your voice command and is responding.

Availability

HomePod mini is priced at $99 in the United States. Pre-orders began Friday, November 6, with the first deliveries to customers and in-store availability set to begin Monday, November 16. In addition to the United States, launch day countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the UK.

Article Link: HomePod Mini Reviews: 'Remarkably Big Sound' Despite Compact Design

 

[GeoStructural]

Still not the best option for most, even in the Apple ecosystem. There are smart speakers in the market that do more, have better smart assistant and universal connectivity at half or a third of the price.

 

[mjsto21]

Will 2 HomePod minis work in the same room as the regular HomePod to fill the space?

 

[Dave245]

Still not the best option for most, even in the Apple ecosystem. There are smart speakers in the market that do more, have better smart assistant and universal connectivity at half or a third of the price.

Yea like Amazon Alexa, however the HomePod sounds much better. I have both the original HomePod and an Amazon Echo, the Echo is a much better smart speaker, but the HomePod is much better for when I want to blast out the music.

 

[NT1440]

Still not the best option for most, even in the Apple ecosystem. There are smart speakers in the market that do more, have better smart assistant and universal connectivity at half or a third of the price.

I just want a speaker that sounds great personally. Couldn’t care less about the “smart” features.

I was going to buy a HOMEpod this year, now I’m questioning whether I should get two of these instead...

 

[44267547]

Still not the best option for most, even in the Apple ecosystem. There are smart speakers in the market that do more, have better smart assistant and universal connectivity at half or a third of the price.

The key take away here, is the sound it’s putting out for the price point. Some of these other Smart speakers that you’re referring to that ‘do more’, come at the cost of sounding like garbage. And if the Mini can execute more rich and dynamic sound over the other smart speakers by spending an extra $30 more, then I’m all for it.

 

[naturalstar]

The integration and intercom feature are main appeal, but I’m also curious as to how this will sound compared to my Bose Soundlink speaker. I never purchased the HomePod, so this will be my first experience.

My HP Mini should arrive on the 17th, can’t wait.

 

[Moakesy]

Currently have one HomePod and multiple Sonos. I was put off going all-in on HomePod because of the cost to change.

Now I can see me getting multiple HomePod minis and ditching the Sonos completely. Music is my main thing (rather than Siri) and the handoff between phone and the mini looks great.

I was going to buy a HOMEpod this year, now I’m questioning whether I should get two of these instead...

Buy two minis.....the HomePod does sound great, but given that the reviews are saying the minis are almost as good, you will get more value out of 2 minis I would say.

 

[NT1440]

Currently have one HomePod and multiple Sonos. I was put off going all-in on HomePod because of the cost to change.

Now I can see me getting multiple HomePod minis and ditching the Sonos completely. Music is my main thing (rather than Siri) and the handoff between phone and the mini looks great.



Buy two minis.....the HomePod does sound great, but given that the reviews are saying the minis are almost as good, you will get more value out of 2 minis I would say.

I’ll probably do that, at least the mini for travel as well.

 

[yegon]

My only interest in smart speakers is for music, so I love the HomePods. Stereo pair in my lounge, incoming Mini’s for the bedroom and kitchen.

The big HomePods hold the peculiar status of both my favourite device and most frustrating device, heheh. When they work, they are tremendous....but does it REALLY need “just a moment” occasionally when I ask it to lower the volume???

 

[FightTheFuture]

The key take away here, is the sound it’s putting out for the price point. Some of these other Smart speakers that you’re referring to that ‘do more’, come at the cost of sounding like garbage.

I think everyone I work with owns an echo, and none of them use them for listening to music for a meaningful time. Using echos for only smart devices use is a good thing but I’m more inclined to use the phone or watch I’m already caring around.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

The problem I'm having with all of these reviews is that they're comparing and stating how well they sound, next to other 3" speakers, but how does this compare to a bookshelf system? What about "real" speakers? How about compared to an iPhone or iPad?

 

[Mdracer]

I have no idea how apple got this HomePod mini to cost less than their MagSafe Duo charger?

On a SIRIous note though, my kids are addicted to yelling at Siri and listing to music all day so these may end up under the tree.

 

[ouimetnick]

Curious to know if the other end of the power cable is a lightning connector..? That would explain the braided lightning cable we saw a while back. I know it’s not “removable” but neither is the regular HomePod (unless you pull hard enough)

 

[citysnaps]

Nice. The two I ordered should be delivered in a week. Looking forward to adding them to rooms where regular HomePods wouldn't make sense.

 

[cfj2222]

Still not the best option for most, even in the Apple ecosystem. There are smart speakers in the market that do more, have better smart assistant and universal connectivity at half or a third of the price.

With Amazon and Google you have to navigate a confusing mess of useless skills to find what you want. You have to ask for those skills specifically for them to work, like “Alexa, tell ____ to do ___” then wait for some ridiculous other voice to confirm. That’s not even touching on privacy issues, sound quality, super slow processors, terrible integrations, no Netflix on screened devices, etc.

 

[wayland1985]

I wish apple would come out with a Sonos Move competitor....

Once that makes an appearance, I’ll sell my Sonos/Alexa setup and start replacing with Apple. (Sonos sounds great, but their app is clunky)

 

[rum0rm0nger]

At the end of the day, it's about your preferred use case. If your priority is minimal smarts and more on the music/sound quality/size end of the spectrum, homepod mini looks like a winner. If you're more concerned with smart features (assistant, routines, integrations, etc.) over music/sound, then you probably want an alternative. I'm more in the latter category, although I definitely see the use cases for both.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Really happy to hear about the solid sound quality. I am super tempted to get a Mini just to listen to tunes.

 

[Nozuka]

I have no idea how apple got this HomePod mini to cost less than their MagSafe Duo charger?

And it also comes with the 20W power adapter.... the more expensive charger doesn't even have it included... 😂

 

[sub150]

Will they allow bluetooth connections to this?

 

[NMBob]

I just want a speaker that sounds great personally. Couldn’t care less about the “smart” features.

I was going to buy a HOMEpod this year, now I’m questioning whether I should get two of these instead...

There's a good 'actually using it' review at www.loopinsight.com. "Yup/Nope" Jim cranked Ozzy up to 11 and was pleased.

 

[cfj2222]

The problem I'm having with all of these reviews is that they're comparing and stating how well they sound, next to other 3" speakers, but how does this compare to a bookshelf system? What about "real" speakers? How about compared to an iPhone or iPad?

Compare apples to apples, not apples to Audi’s.

 

[GeoStructural]

With Amazon and Google you have to navigate a confusing mess of useless skills to find what you want. You have to ask for those skills specifically for them to work, like “Alexa, tell ____ to do ___” then wait for some ridiculous other voice to confirm. That’s not even touching on privacy issues, sound quality, super slow processors, terrible integrations, no Netflix on screened devices, etc.

I could never describe any of those as a “mess” or “ridiculous voice” when the comparison is Siri, which is the worst of all.

Regarding the other things, I also have privacy concerns (including with HomePod) but you are wrong about integration and Netflix, I have a Google Nest family of speakers, some with screens and some without and I can definitely watch videos on them, I can also integrate them with Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Spotify, control the lights and security cameras. I really don’t why you say you can’t and I would even argue that they are more integrate-able than HomePods.

 

[anthogag]

Do these HP minis know when to act together in stereo? When they're close enough in proximity.

People will put these all over the house.

If you have 10 around the home could there be a noise cancellation feature? For example, to diminish the neighbour's barking dog or a crying baby or the 4 AM garbage truck...

Maybe we'll soon see an Apple subwoofer connected to multiple HP minis all over the house...