TL;DR
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found that Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 delivers noticeably louder, clearer sound than the original Mini, despite a nearly identical design and published driver description. The updated chip and microphone are intended to support Siri features, but some Apple Intelligence capabilities were not available during testing.
Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 sounds noticeably louder and clearer than the original Mini, according to CNET’s hands-on testing, even though the new speaker is almost identical in size and appearance. The review found the audio improvement to be the model’s clearest upgrade, while some advertised Siri AI capabilities remain unavailable pending future software features.
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma tested the Mini 2 beside the original HomePod Mini and the second-generation full-size HomePod. He played the same audio at the same volume on each speaker, switching repeatedly while streaming Apple Lossless music through Apple Music. In those tests, Lacoma reported that the Mini 2 produced greater range and louder, clearer audio than its predecessor.
The review says the new speaker retains the original Mini’s size and shape, and Apple describes both models as using a full-range driver and dual passive radiators. Apple has not supplied further hardware detail in the material cited by the review. Internal changes include an Apple S10 chip and an additional microphone, which Apple says are intended to support computational audio and upcoming Siri AI features. New color options and a pulsing “Sound Glow” lighting mode are among the visible changes.
CNET found setup familiar for Apple users: an updated iPhone or iPad detects the nearby speaker and can transfer settings in under a minute. The reviewer also reported quick music handoff between an iPhone and the speaker. The Mini 2 costs $150, compared with $129 for the previous Mini and $100 for Google’s new Home speaker, according to the report. Lacoma said the second-generation full-size HomePod still performed better, particularly on bass, but costs $349.
A Bigger Audio Upgrade in the Same Size
The reported sound improvement could matter most to people who like the Mini’s small footprint but found the original model too limited to fill a room. Lacoma’s side-by-side listening tests suggest the new speaker may address that shortcoming without requiring buyers to step up to Apple’s much larger and more expensive HomePod. That conclusion reflects one reviewer’s testing, rather than a standardized measurement or a broad consumer assessment.
The price increase also changes the comparison. At $150, the Mini 2 costs more than both its predecessor and the Google speaker cited in the review. For buyers already invested in Apple devices, its setup, Home app controls and iPhone music handoff may add value. Buyers focused on the strongest bass or overall output may still prefer the $349 full-size HomePod, while those expecting new Siri AI capabilities immediately should note that some features have not yet arrived.
What Changed From the Original Mini
The original HomePod Mini established Apple’s compact smart-speaker option, and the Mini 2 keeps its familiar small, round design. The update is less apparent from the outside: beyond new colors and Sound Glow, the speaker looks much like the earlier model. Apple’s description of the audio hardware is also similar, which made the reviewer’s reported listening difference less obvious from the specifications alone.
Apple’s October announcements placed the speaker within a wider smart-home push, alongside new security equipment and the company’s first HomeView smart display, according to the CNET report. The Mini 2 adds a chip and microphone that are tied to audio processing and planned Siri capabilities. In the Home app, users can adjust lighting and physical controls, reduce bass, pair another compatible speaker for stereo, use Intercom, and enable sound recognition for smoke alarms. These are described as available settings; the future Siri AI functions should not be confused with features confirmed as working in the review.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features Are Still Pending
The review says buyers will have to wait for all of the promised Siri AI features, but it does not specify which capabilities will arrive first or provide a release schedule. The source material also does not give independent measurements of audio output, detailed specifications for the Mini 2’s driver system, or testing across a wider range of rooms and listening conditions. The reported sound advantage is based on Lacoma’s comparative listening tests.
It is also unclear from the report how much the S10 chip and additional microphone will change everyday Siri performance before the planned AI features become available. Apple’s descriptions establish that the components are new, but the review does not quantify their effect on response speed or voice recognition. Availability and timing for the pending features remain unspecified.
Watch for Siri Software Updates
The next meaningful development for Mini 2 owners will be the release and testing of the upcoming Siri AI features associated with the new chip. Apple has not provided a schedule in the source material, so buyers should treat those capabilities as future additions rather than features confirmed in the review. Further independent listening tests and detailed hardware information could also clarify how the audio improvement compares across different spaces and music sources.
Key Questions
How does the HomePod Mini 2 sound compared with the original?
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reported louder, clearer sound and greater range from the Mini 2 in repeated comparisons using the same audio and volume. The review does not provide laboratory sound measurements.
What is the HomePod Mini 2’s price?
The CNET report lists the Mini 2 at $150, compared with $129 for the original Mini and $100 for Google’s new Home speaker.
Does the HomePod Mini 2 look different?
It keeps the original Mini’s size and shape. The reported visible differences are new color options and Sound Glow, a lighting effect that pulses with music.
Are the new Siri AI features available now?
Not all of them. CNET says owners will have to wait for some upcoming Siri AI features; the report does not give a release date or a full rollout schedule.
Is the Mini 2 better than the full-size HomePod?
Not overall, according to the review. Lacoma said the second-generation full-size HomePod handled volume and especially bass better, though it costs $349 and is larger than the Mini 2.
Source: cnet.com
