Short answer: the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It ranks #14 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $279. The Apple HomePod Mini ranks #10, rated 3.3/5, at $149.36, $129.64 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker does well: A compact smart speaker with an up firing driver for taller sound, built in Alexa, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and an aux input. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Apple HomePod Mini lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Apple HomePod Mini lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS lists sub-par directivity as its main weakness, and reviewers agree a single unit sounds narrow from side to side, so it works best as a stereo pair.
Why pick the Apple HomePod Mini: 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.
Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $129.64 saving on the Apple HomePod Mini is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 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
| Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker | Apple HomePod Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 each | $149.36 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose app multi-room, AirPlay 2, Google Cast) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | AC power cord | External AC adapter (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 0.8 lbs (345 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Bose) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | Yes (4 far-field mics, no mute button) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Mid/Treble + up-firing driver level) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Bose app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | 3in woofer, 1in tweeter, 1.5in up-firing mid/high driver | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes (3.5mm) | 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 | 7.2” x 4.8” x 6.6” (184 x 121 x 167 mm) (H x W x D) | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Apple Siri |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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