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On paper, the HomePod mini 2 looks like its predecessor in terms of sound: same driver and diaphragm design, same size housing. However, two direct comparisons reveal a difference, just not one of comparable size. In fact, two of the first three tests identified the most significant improvements elsewhere.
The HomePod mini 2 has been available since October 30th. According to Apple's announcement, it costs €169 in Germany. Apple speaks of an even more immersive listening experience, but provides no measurements or comparison to the first model.
The first tests from CNET, Cult of Mac, and The Verge now provide a comparison. They supplement the technical specifications of the HomePod mini 2 with what no datasheet reveals: how it performs in everyday use. All articles about the device are compiled on the HomePod mini 2 page.
Key Facts at a Glance
- In a direct comparison, CNET hears significantly more sound range and a louder, clearer sound than the first HomePod mini.
- Cult of Mac hears a particularly strong bass, but warns against overly high expectations.
- Apple's data sheets list the same speaker design; the new model is the S10 instead of the S5.
- According to The Verge, Siri regularly responds in under three seconds, whereas the first model often took up to ten.
- Siri AI is still missing, and the Mac speaker mode didn't work in one test, while another described it as usable.
Same design, new chip
Apple lists a full-range driver and two passive radiators in the technical specifications of the HomePod mini 2. The datasheet for the first HomePod mini describes the same configuration; the height and width are also identical. The number of microphones decreases from four to three.
The audible difference must therefore come from somewhere else. Ed Hardy of Cult of Mac suspects the S10 chip is responsible. According to Apple, the speaker uses this chip and computational audio to analyze music in real time to optimize dynamic range, volume, and acoustic performance. Apple provides no measurement data or comparison to the S5 chip in the first model.
Two listening comparisons, two orders of magnitude
Tyler Lacoma set up a side-by-side comparison for CNET between the HomePod mini 2, the first HomePod mini, and the second-generation HomePod. At the same volume, he repeatedly switched between the devices using Apple Music in lossless quality. His result:
The new Mini 2 had significantly more capacity and a louder, clearer sound than the first HomePod Mini.
The difference changed his opinion of a speaker that, on paper, hadn't seemed worthwhile. Nevertheless, the larger HomePod retains its top spot, especially in terms of volume and bass.
Ed Hardy also compared both generations directly for Cult of Mac, using his own first model. He stated that he did not receive a test device from Apple. He writes:
To my ears, the second generation sounds noticeably better. Especially the stronger bass.
In the same text, he tempers expectations: no one should expect a night-and-day difference, and at the end, he speaks of a moderately improved sound. CNET, on the other hand, writes of massive improvements. Both texts are based on listening impressions; neither provides any measurements. The general direction is the same, but the extent is not.
| Test | Construction | Sound | Tempo |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNET (Tyler Lacoma) | Direct comparison with the first HomePod mini and the second-generation HomePod, same volume | Significantly more volume, louder, clearer, behind the large HomePod | According to the test, Siri responds immediately |
| Cult of Mac (Ed Hardy) | Direct comparison with my own first HomePod mini | noticeably better, especially in the bass; the difference is like night and day | Delay after voice commands has disappeared |
| The Verge (Jennifer Pattison Tuohy) | Two days with two devices in the office, no sound comparison | Very good speaker for its size | regularly under three seconds instead of often up to ten seconds |
Two tests will accelerate the pace
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy didn't compare sound quality for The Verge, but rather response time. The HomePod mini 2 fulfilled a music request in a few seconds and switched lights and blinds in under three seconds. She says she often waits up to ten seconds for the same response on the first HomePod mini. She attributes this to the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 4.
Siri AI isn't even involved yet. Hardy makes the same observation: the annoying pause before the speaker reacts has disappeared. He calls the faster response his favorite new feature, even more so than the sound.
CNET takes a different approach. Lacoma also describes Siri as very fast, but for him the real question when buying a device is the sound quality.
Where the tests slow things down
Siri AI will arrive via a later update. According to Apple's English announcement, it will launch in English in the US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK. Germany is not included initially, and Austria and Switzerland are also not on the list.
The sound lights failed to impress in any of the three tests. Lacoma found them unimpressive, Tuohy too subtle, and Hardy either didn't notice them or found them distracting.
The Verge reports a failure with a feature that Apple explicitly promotes: using the HomePod mini 2 as the default speaker for the Mac. Tuohy, using a Mac mini M4, macOS 27.2, and HomePod software 27.2, couldn't find the option in the sound settings. The connection only worked as standard AirPlay, with occasional dropouts. She cites other reports of the same problem, but no response from Apple was available at the time of publication. Cult of Mac, however, describes the feature as usable. So the mode isn't failing everywhere.
Why the change looks different now
According to the data, when compared to the first HomePod mini, there was little reason to replace a single speaker in the kitchen or bathroom. The reviews, however, shift this assessment, but their emphasis differs: CNET sees the reason for switching in sound quality, while Cult of Mac and The Verge prioritize speed. Nevertheless, Hardy's first model isn't going back in the box; it's simply moving from the living room to the bedroom.
I therefore consider the faster response time to be the better selling point. The sound improvement is described too differently to justify replacing a functioning device solely for that reason. I expect the speed improvement to also be noticeable here, because S10 and Wi-Fi 6E are not tied to voice.
Those who primarily listen to music are better off comparing it to the larger HomePod, as it remains clearly ahead in CNET's tests. Switching over is straightforward: according to CNET, the previous settings were transferred in under a minute when setting up with an iPhone or iPad.
Do you still have an original HomePod mini, and would the faster response time or the more powerful bass be worth €169 to you? Let us know in the comments which of the two points is the deciding factor for you.
