Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 3.3/5 (#10 and #11 of 15 powered desktop speakers) at nearly the same price ($149.36 vs $149), so choose on features and fit.
What the Apple HomePod Mini does well: A tiny Siri smart speaker that hears you even at full volume and gives decent bass for its size. 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.
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 Apple HomePod Mini or the Apple HomePod Mini 2 on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
About the ratings: the Apple HomePod Mini 2’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.5, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
A tiny Siri smart speaker that hears you even at full volume and gives decent bass for its size.
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
| Apple HomePod Mini | Apple HomePod Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.36 each | $149.00 each Preorder |
| Ranked | #10 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 (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (USB-C) | External 20W USB-C power adapter |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (345 g) | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| App | Yes (Apple Home) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (4 far-field mics, no mute button) | Yes (3 far-field mics) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | 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 | No | No |
| Dimensions | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | Apple Siri |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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