HomePod Mini Teardown Confirms Power Cord Can't Be Removed

[Tech198]

well. there are pros and cons to the removal of anything... Mainly number 1 would be "you'll loose it" (...or break it)

Hompod mini with batteries ? There's a good idea.

 

[Arran]

You can also take a slot toaster with you to work every day, but most people don't do that.

Yeah, but that slot toaster better have a battery or no deal!

 

[Arran]

Unless your whole home will shutdown if the "homekit" device(homepod) loses electricity, I think you will be ok. It just means you won't be able to control your home via voice commands, which is how 99.9% of people still do.

You’d lose more than voice commands (which could be tolerated). You’d lose actual control of devices (either by voice or button in the IOS home app) when you‘re not home. HomeKit secure video and all other functions (like Bluetooth connected sensors, door locks and timed automations) that require a hub would similarly be disabled.

You really don’t want to run a home hub on (finite) battery power.

 

[I7guy]

My idea is that if you have this in your bedroom, then maybe you can pick it to the pool side or the garage and get the functionality with you. Now you have to:
1-Buy one for the pool, one for the garage, one for the bedroom.
2-Pull the plug out and try to find an electric outlet in the garage and the pool

see its much easier if it had a battery, it does not hurt. People here make it sound like its a bad thing if it could run on batteries.

Get a battery pack that can power the mini. Apple doesn't seem to be interested in the bluetooth, portable speaker market. It's not a bad thing to run on batteries, not a market Apple doesn't want to engage in.

 

[MacBH928]

Get a battery pack that can power the mini. Apple doesn't seem to be interested in the bluetooth, portable speaker market. It's not a bad thing to run on batteries, not a market Apple doesn't want to engage in.

While its much bulkier and worse than just pulling the cord out and carry your homepod mini to the desired location, and the fact that Apple didn't give us the possibility to detach the cord(usb-c?) so we can connect it to a battery pack...you do offer a Dr.Frankenstein solution.

 

[danny842003]

While its much bulkier and worse than just pulling the cord out and carry your homepod mini to the desired location, and the fact that Apple didn't give us the possibility to detach the cord(usb-c?) so we can connect it to a battery pack...you do offer a Dr.Frankenstein solution.

Yeah use your iPhone and a Bluetooth speaker.

 

[I7guy]

While its much bulkier and worse than just pulling the cord out and carry your homepod mini to the desired location, and the fact that Apple didn't give us the possibility to detach the cord(usb-c?) so we can connect it to a battery pack...you do offer a Dr.Frankenstein solution.

The poster above beat me too it. In my office I have an OG homepod and a bose soundlink mini ii. I take the Bose and my iphone and play music as needed. Granted the og homepod sound is awesome, and the bose doesn't sound close, but in a pinch it's fine.

 

[Arran]

The poster above beat me too it. In my office I have an OG homepod and a bose soundlink mini ii. I take the Bose and my iphone and play music as needed. Granted the og homepod sound is awesome, and the bose doesn't sound close, but in a pinch it's fine.

The exact same solution I use! Costco had the sound link minis on sale a few months back for $130. Excellent (rechargable) Bluetooth speaker.

 

[MacOSExustio]

I haven't read this monster thread yet (which is old), but I wonder if this might be (as well as *maybe* saving a few cents wholesale) because there would be all sorts of extra regulatory hoops to jump through if something has a "possible water-ingress port" or something that would need to be checked/secured/patched/etc?

 

[MacOSExustio]

>What logical reason did Apple think this small device should be connected 24hrs to electric charge
Size and weight to name two reasons.

Government/shipping/airline regulations on LiIon batteries (probably even for ones not charged much/any. (Not that Apple would *ever* ship anything that wasn't at least partly changed so it would just *work magically* when you opened the box). Compliance costs for extra safety testing regarding battery and extra 3 cents for temperature sensor (*), and then 3 more cents for a *backup* temperature sensor. Probably extra "end-of-life" provisions (at least taking the LiIon battery out of the thing for people who actually return them to Apple for "proper recycling"). I'm sure the minutiae goes on and on.

(*) Ah, saw the story that there already is one in there. Perhaps they considered putting a battery in there at some point? (In the past, or as a future "BeachPod" personal speaker?)