Short answer: the Amazon Echo Dot Max. It ranks #5 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $89.99; the Apple HomePod Mini 2 ranks #11, rated 3.3/5, and costs $149, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Amazon Echo Dot Max does well: An affordable Alexa smart speaker with an excellent far field microphone, louder and bassier than the standard Dot. The catch: Engadget’s main complaint was that it is a real step down from the discontinued Amazon Echo (4th Gen) it effectively replaces at the same price: that older speaker paired a 3-inch woofer with dual 0.8-inch tweeters, against the Dot Max’s single 2.5-inch woofer and one tweeter, and frequencies felt smushed together without a clean bass-to-treble separation.
Why pick the Apple HomePod Mini 2: Apple’s second generation HomePod mini keeps the compact acoustic design of the Apple HomePod Mini, a full-range driver with dual passive radiators and a waveguide for 360 degree sound, and adds a newer chip for real-time computational tuning. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from its measured predecessor.
Pre-order: the Apple HomePod Mini 2 is available for pre-order and expected to ship Friday, October 30, 2026.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot Max. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Apple HomePod Mini 2 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Worth knowing: the Apple HomePod Mini 2 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable Alexa smart speaker with an excellent far field microphone, louder and bassier than the standard Dot.
Apple’s second generation HomePod mini keeps the compact acoustic design of the Apple HomePod Mini, a full-range driver with dual passive radiators and a waveguide for 360 degree sound, and adds a newer chip for real-time computational tuning.
Prices on this page were last checked October 26, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | Apple HomePod Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 each | $149.00 each Preorder |
| Ranked | #5 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #11 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers Estimated |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa Home Theater) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External 20W USB-C power adapter |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute) | Yes (3 far-field mics) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | 2.5in woofer, 1x tweeter | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 4.4” x 4.9” (99 x 112 x 124 mm) | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Apple Siri |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Weight | - | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
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