HomePod Mini 2 first look: Three things I love and one disappointment
News Source
β’2026-11-01T09:00:00-05:00
π° What Happened
Apple's new HomePod Mini 2 costs $149, up from $99. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy spent a few days with a pair in her office.
She likes three things. Siri answers in under three seconds, thanks to a faster S10 chip, and it often does smart home tasks without talking back. The deep green colour looks great. A new setting lets you lock the touch controls so you stop bumping them.
The disappointment came from a feature that turns the Mini into a Mac speaker. It would not set up, even with the right hardware.
π The Backstory
The first HomePod Mini came out in 2020 for $99. Since then Amazon and Google have pushed small smart speakers to far lower prices, while Apple kept its price high.
The Mini 2 shipped without Siri AI, Apple's rebuilt assistant. Apple says it is coming later in a software update, so buyers are paying now for a promise.
π― Why It Matters
The speed jump over an old Mini is real, but the price went up $50. If you care about Siri AI, waiting for the update before buying may be safer.
Apple's new HomePod Mini 2 costs $149, up from $99. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy spent a few days with a pair in her office.
She likes three things. Siri answers in under three seconds, thanks to a faster S10 chip, and it often does smart home tasks without talking back. The deep green colour looks great. A new setting lets you lock the touch controls so you stop bumping them.
The disappointment came from a feature that turns the Mini into a Mac speaker. It would not set up, even with the right hardware.
The first HomePod Mini came out in 2020 for $99. Since then Amazon and Google have pushed small smart speakers to far lower prices, while Apple kept its price high.
The Mini 2 shipped without Siri AI, Apple's rebuilt assistant. Apple says it is coming later in a software update, so buyers are paying now for a promise.
The speed jump over an old Mini is real, but the price went up $50. If you care about Siri AI, waiting for the update before buying may be safer.