Short answer: the Sonos Era 100. It ranks #16 of 28 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $217.99. The Apple HomePod Mini 2 ranks #11, rated 3.3/5, at $149, $68.99 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sonos Era 100: A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Apple HomePod Mini 2 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Apple HomePod Mini 2. The tradeoff: RTINGS’ own two listed cons are not loud enough for larger rooms and very little low-bass thump, so genres like EDM and hip-hop lack rumble even with the tone adjustments.
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 Sonos Era 100. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $68.99 saving on the Apple HomePod Mini 2 is not enough to make up the difference.
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.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom.
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
| Sonos Era 100 | Apple HomePod Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $217.99 each | $149.00 each Preorder |
| Ranked | #16 of 28 in Medium 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 (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External 20W USB-C power adapter |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) | 0.7 lbs (335 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) | Yes (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | Yes (3 far-field mics) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer | Full-range driver + dual passive bass radiators |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) | 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 | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) | 3.3” x 3.9” (84.3 x 97.9 mm) (H x diameter) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Apple Siri |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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