Short answer: the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen. It ranks #2 of 14 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $219.99. The Apple HomePod Mini ranks #10, rated 3.3/5, at $149.36, $70.63 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen is the better-sounding choice. SoundGuys called it the best-sounding Amazon speaker they have tested, scoring it 7.8 of 10. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Apple HomePod Mini lacks. The tradeoff: SoundGuys still marked it down on Value (4.0 of 10) given the $219.99 list price, and it is explicitly not true left-right stereo from one cabinet, so a stereo pair is needed for real width in a larger room.
What the Apple HomePod Mini does well: SoundGuys called it good sound for its size, with a full-range driver and dual passive bass radiators giving the bassline in Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down” a decent thump most speakers this small can’t manage. The tradeoff: SoundGuys’ listed cons include no mute button at all, an occasionally annoying Handoff prompt, and no direct Spotify integration since Siri only launches Apple Music by voice.
Buy the Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $70.63 you would save on the Apple HomePod Mini does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
SoundGuys called it the best-sounding Amazon speaker they have tested, scoring it 7.8 of 10.
Amazon $219.99 eBay
SoundGuys called it good sound for its size, with a full-range driver and dual passive bass radiators giving the bassline in Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down” a decent thump most speakers this small can’t manage.
Amazon $149.36 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM 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 Studio 2nd Gen | Apple HomePod Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 each | $149.36 each |
| Ranked | #2 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| 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 AC adapter (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.632 kg) | 0.8 lbs (345 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute button, far-field) | Yes (4 far-field mics, no mute button) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + Dolby Virtualizer, via Alexa app) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | 3.75in high-excursion woofer, 3x 2.25in full-range drivers (L/R/up) | 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 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Dimensions | 6.1” x 5.6” x 5.8” (155 x 142 x 147 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, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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