TL;DR: The first HomePod mini 2 review verdicts are in, and they agree on the big win: Apple’s new S10 chip makes the $149 speaker far faster at Siri replies and smart-home commands. Reviewers love the new green finish and most hear slightly fuller sound with stronger bass, though AppleInsider heard no change. The catches: the headline AI Siri upgrade is not available yet, four-speaker surround needs the new Apple TV 4K (due November 13), and two reviewers could not get the new “default Mac speaker” option to appear at all.
Apple’s second-generation small smart speaker is now in reviewers’ homes, about six years after the original. We read the early HomePod mini 2 review coverage from The Verge, Cult of Mac, AppleInsider, 9to5Mac and others to pull out what is actually better, what is missing and who should buy one right now.
HomePod mini 2 at a glance
| Spec or feature | HomePod mini 2 |
|---|---|
| Price | $149 |
| Chip | Apple S10 (the original used an S5) |
| Size | 3.3 in (84.3 mm) tall, 3.9 in (97.9 mm) wide, per Cult of Mac |
| Colors | White, midnight, blue, pink and green |
| Speaker hardware | Single full-range driver, two force-cancelling passive radiators, acoustic waveguide |
| Power | Built-in USB-C cable, no battery |
| New tricks | Sound Glow light effect, default wireless speaker for Wi-Fi 6E Macs, four-speaker surround with the new Apple TV 4K |
| Siri AI | Promised in a future software update; not available at launch |
For the launch details, see our earlier report on the HomePod mini 2 announcement.
What reviewers like
It is much faster
Speed is the most consistent praise. Cult of Mac’s Ed Hardy, who gave it five stars, says the jump from the S5 to the S10 is his favorite upgrade: “The irritating delay while the device thinks over what I said disappeared.” AppleInsider agrees that Handoff and Siri answers are “much faster,” and that lights and other accessories respond right away. The Verge says the chip bump makes this “a bigger upgrade than it initially seemed.”
The green is a hit
The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy calls the green “divine” and “the prettiest small smart speaker I’ve seen.” AppleInsider’s reviewer also bought green and says it “looks fantastic.” The Verge notes the pink is very pale and the blue is nearly identical to the first-gen blue.
Sound: a little better, for most
Cult of Mac ran a side-by-side test and says the new model “definitely came out ahead,” especially in bass, while warning not to expect “a night-and-day difference.” Singapore site Can Buy or Not also heard “slightly richer and fuller” sound. The Verge points out that Apple did not change the speaker hardware but still calls it “a very good speaker for its size.” AppleInsider is the outlier: it heard “no change in audio quality.”
What reviewers don’t like
- The Mac speaker feature didn’t work for two testers. HomePod Software 27.2 lets a HomePod mini 2 (or second-gen HomePod) act as a low-latency default speaker for a Mac. The Verge had the required hardware, a Wi-Fi 6E Mac Mini on macOS 27.2, but the option never appeared in Sound settings. AppleInsider hit the same wall on a MacBook Pro. The Verge says Apple had not responded to its questions at the time of publishing.
- Not every Mac qualifies. 9to5Mac notes the feature needs a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E, which leaves out early Apple silicon models such as the M1 family.
- No Siri AI yet. Apple says the AI-powered Siri comes later in a software update. Cult of Mac notes it is “not yet even in beta,” so for now you get classic Siri.
- Surround is untested. Four-speaker surround requires the new Apple TV 4K, which Cult of Mac says reaches customers on November 13. Nobody could test it at home yet.
- Same look, same top panel. AppleInsider points out there is no updated top display. Sound Glow, the new album-art light show, also comes to the original mini via software.
- Not portable. There is still no battery, and it needs Wi-Fi.
Review scorecard
| Outlet | Verdict in brief |
|---|---|
| Cult of Mac | 5/5: “A big step up,” better sound and much faster |
| The Verge | First look: faster, quieter, gorgeous in green, but the Mac speaker feature failed |
| AppleInsider | Hands-on: “Good, but underwhelming” right now; big speed gain, no audio change |
| 9to5Mac | Software hands-on: likes Sound Glow and low-latency Mac audio on Wi-Fi 6E Macs |
| Can Buy or Not | Hands-on: slightly richer sound, “plenty of potential” |
Should you buy the HomePod mini 2?
- Buy it if you use a HomePod as your smart-home hub. Every reviewer felt the speed gain in daily voice commands.
- Buy it if you want a stereo pair for a newer Mac and are willing to wait for Apple to iron out the Mac speaker setup.
- Wait if you are buying mainly for AI Siri or four-speaker surround. Neither can be judged yet.
- Skip it if your original HomePod mini sounds fine and you rarely use Siri. Cult of Mac’s reviewer simply moved his old one to the bedroom.
If you are building out Apple audio, our AirPods 5 review roundup covers Apple’s latest earbuds, and our report on the M6 iMac and MacBook Pro covers the Macs most likely to pair with it.
Bottom line
The early HomePod mini 2 review consensus is that the S10 chip finally makes Apple’s small speaker feel quick, and the green version is a looker. Audio is a modest step up at best. The features that would make it a must-buy, Siri AI, surround sound and reliable Mac output, are either delayed, untestable or buggy at launch. It is a solid $149 smart speaker today, with its best features still to come.
Sources
- The Verge: HomePod Mini 2 first look
- Cult of Mac: HomePod mini 2 review
- AppleInsider: HomePod mini 2 hands-on
- 9to5Mac: HomePod 27.2 hands-on
- Can Buy or Not: HomePod mini 2 hands-on
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