Our Verdict
It really comes down to your audio timber demands and budget . The 2d gen HomePod is a gamy - terminal speaker that delivers incredibly pleasing sound . But , for around a third of the damage , you’re able to get the HomePod mini which provides audio that is unspoiled enough for most juncture . In fact , you’re able to buy two HomePod minis to make a stereo pair and still save $ 100 compared to the HomePod .
Best Prices Today: Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023)
When Apple launch the HomePod in February 2018 it was by and large praised as an excellent speaker . But with a high cost and a lot of competition from Amazon and Google ’s smart speaker , the HomePod was at a disadvantage . Then in November 2020 , Apple introduced the HomePod miniskirt , which , play many of the same features as the HomePod at a much abject price .
HomePod mini ’s reaching intend that those who want an Apple smart speaker unit no longer needed to give up to $ 299/£299 , and that may well have been the grounds why Apple discontinued the original HomePod in March 2021 . Most people seemed to prioritize price over sound quality for the past two class , the HomePod miniskirt was the only wise talker you could buy from Apple .
That exchange in January 2003 , when Apple reintroduced the with child HomePod with very minor change from the original fashion model . In this clause , we will look at how the second generation HomePod compares to the HomePod miniskirt . We ’ll also address some of the deviation between the 2023 HomePod and the HomePod Apple stick in in 2018 .
HomePod vs HomePod mini: Specs
HomePod vs HomePod mini: Price
When the HomePod was first released back in 2018 , it came with a pretty hefty $ 349/£319 toll tag . Over time this dropped to $ 299/£279 before the original HomePod was discontinued . Now , with the arrival of the 2023 HomePod , the price is $ 299/£299 .
The HomePod miniskirt , on the other hand , sell for $ 99/£99 ( in the U.K. the price discharge to £ 89 for a while before returning to £ 99 ) . You ’ll see the best price right now below :
The big inquiry is why would you buy a HomePod when you could grease one’s palms three HomePod mini for the same cost ? The main reason to bribe the HomePod instead of the HomePod miniskirt is its sound tone . While the mini is a serious speaker , the large HomePod offers significantly better sound than the little model , and audiophiles should definitely spring for the more expensive model .
HomePod vs HomePod mini: Design
Apple
The 2nd - gen HomePod is almost identical to the original HomePod , with the same mesh exterior , but there are some deviation . The display on the top is a little larger and alternatively of the white and blank gray of the original , the coloring material option are either White or Midnight , which is a shade obscure than the original ’s place grey .
The HomePod miniskirt get along in a selection of five colors , with quad gray and white join by blueish , yellow-bellied , and orange . It ’s also half the height of the standard HomePod and more spherical in soma , but it shares the meshing exterior and presentation on the top that makes it recognizable as a HomePod .
Here ’s how the property compare :
The original HomePod had an integrated power cable that should n’t be disconnected ( it was possible to yank out the cable from the original HomePod which could damage the talker ) . The HomePod mini cable also ca n’t be disconnected from the speaker . We are glad to account that the new HomePod does have a detachable cable television service , and rather than the proprietary connectedness of the original HomePod this is a standard cable , so if you were to lose it then any cable television with a figure - eight connection will work . This could be utile if you desire to set your speaker up in a plaza where the cable access is a moment cunning . We ’d bonk Apple to include a battery inside the HomePod so that it did n’t have to be connect to the wall and could be really portable , but this has n’t fall out yet .
HomePod vs HomePod mini: Sound quality and features
As we have already bespeak , the principal difference between the two type of HomePod is the audio capabilities . Inside the second - gen HomePod is a verbalizer array comprise of five beamforming tweeters and a mellow - excursion woofer with a customs duty amplifier . Curiously , the 1st gen HomePod had seven tweeters , it also had more microphones ( six in the old model , four in the fresh ) .
The larger HomePod also admit a low - frequency standardisation EQ microphone which compound with room - smell technology to activate the HomePod to monitor and canvass the acoustic and adapt sound frequence and maximise acoustic public presentation in response to the smother environment .
The size of the HomePod mini human body means it ca n’t suit all of this audio splendor , so it has few speakers and microphone than the larger model , but it does offer a “ full - kitchen range equipment driver ” and “ double passive radiator , ” that allow for “ deep bass and crisp gamy frequency ” , grant to Apple . Inour examination , we found the sound tone was n’t as deep as the larger HomePod and was particularly lacking in basso , but still potent enough to fill a elbow room with speech sound , especially if you beak up a pair of them and set them up as stereophonic speakers .
Since the HomePod 15.1 software update , the HomePod and HomePod miniskirt have offered support for Apple ’s Lossless audio recording densification engineering science , so you may make for music in 16 - bit/44.1 kilocycle per second ( CD quality ) to 24 - bit/192 kilocycle per second . The HomePod also digest Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio , but the HomePod miniskirt does n’t . Nor does the HomePod mini support Dolby Digital 7.1 or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround phone like the larger HomePod . Therefore if you want to utilize yourHomePod as part of a dwelling house movie theatre , particularly as part of a stereophonic system pair , the standard HomePod might be a better option .
It ’s not only the number of tweeter and mike that is unlike , the HomePod and HomePod miniskirt are power by unlike Apple chips .
We were surprised to find that the 2nd gen HomePod is powered by an Apple Watch CPU , which does feel a bit like a step back from the A8 in the original HomePod . Apple ’s opt for a chip shot suited to a compact design , rather than the power of a more modern iPhone chip shot , but we accept there is enough power in the Watch flake to justify the move .
All HomePods can be used as a stereo duet , but you ca n’t geminate different case of HomePod together . So you ca n’t pair an HomePod mini with a HomePod , and you ca n’t even pair a HomePod 1st - gen with a HomePod 2nd - gen .
The HomePod 2nd - gen and HomePod mini both sport Apple ’s U1 chip shot ( which was n’t in the original HomePod ) . The U1 allows you to “ hand off ” euphony playback from your iPhone ( 11 or newer ) to your HomePod , so you could carry on listening to your medicine when you leave or enter your home . you could also see media controls without having to unlock your iPhone and get personalized listening suggestions .
The cables of the HomePods are different though : the HomePod mini ’s cord has a USB - C cable like the original HomePod and the newer HomePod . Rather , it ship with Apple ’s 20W USB - cytosine superpower transcriber . If you lose this then any 20W USB - 100 battery charger will suffice , but it does need to be 20W.
The 2nd - gen HomePod and HomePod mini also have a temperature and humidity sensor for tracking the condition of the room they ’re in . moreover , the larger HomePod also listens for smoking and carbon monoxide alarms and can send an alert to your iPhone when detected .
Both the HomePod mini and 2nd gen HomePod include Thread support to be used as a Home hub for subject devices . And all of Apple ’s HomePod speakers offer Siri support fora variety of uses , including playing medicine , set alarum and timer , and sending message .
HomePod vs HomePod mini: Buying advice
There are some well grounds why the second generation HomePod is a in effect choice than the HomePod miniskirt . If you manage a bunch about reasoned quality or require support for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio , then the HomePod is the only option . But if , like the vast majority of people , you are only looking for a decent overbold speaker to use with Apple Music or Spotify , then theHomePod miniskirt will do the jobfor a fraction of the price .
