Short answer: the Sonos Era 300 for better sound quality, the Apple HomePod Mini 2 for the lower price. The Sonos Era 300 ranks #6 of 10 powered desktop speakers, rated 4.0/5, at $497. The Apple HomePod Mini 2 ranks #11, rated 3.3/5, at $149, $348 cheaper.
The case for the Sonos Era 300: A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning. 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. Watch for: RTINGS’ one listed con is some compression at max volume.
What the Apple HomePod Mini 2 does well: 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 catch: 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 300 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Apple HomePod Mini 2 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning.
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 300 | Apple HomePod Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $497.00 each | $149.00 each Preorder |
| Ranked | #6 of 10 in Large 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 | 9.9 lbs (4.47 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 | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers | 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 | 7.3” x 10.2” x 6.3” (185 x 260 x 160 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, Dolby Atmos Music | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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