Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Bose Portable Smart Speaker ranks #75 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $399; the Apple HomePod Mini ranks #10 of 15 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $149.36.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is the battery-powered, tougher choice. A smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant built in that streams over Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the go. Its battery is rated for 12 hours, while the Apple HomePod Mini needs an outlet. It is rated IPX4, while the Apple HomePod Mini has no water resistance. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Apple HomePod Mini lacks. The tradeoff: RTINGS found the out of the box tuning boomy and says it doesn’t get very loud; the app’s bass and treble sliders help, and SoundGuys recommended cutting bass by 10 to 20 steps to balance it.
The case for 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 Portable Smart Speaker at $399 if you want a medium speaker. Buy the Apple HomePod Mini at $149.36 if you want a powered desktop speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Apple HomePod Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $149.36 each |
| Ranked | #75 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Power Input | USB-C | External AC adapter (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | - |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs (1.06 kg) | 0.8 lbs (345 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Dimensions | 7.6” x 4.7” x 4.1” (192 x 119 x 104 mm) (H x W x D) | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) |
| App | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field mic array, mic mute button) | Yes (4 far-field mics, no mute button) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | No |
| Drivers | 1x high-excursion driver with 360-degree deflector + 3x passive radiators | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | Apple Siri |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Music multi-room, SimpleSync, AirPlay 2) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
| Inputs | - | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Bose Portable Smart Speaker: