Apple recently announced the HomePod (2nd-generation), sporting a new design and bringing multiple new features, but how does it compare to the cheaper HomePod Mini? The 2nd-generation HomePod is Apple's third smart speaker, launching five years after the first-gen HomePod was first available for purchase and almost two years after it was discontinued.
The HomePod (2nd-generation) and HomePod Mini are quite different in their design, starting with the size. The HomePod 2 is larger, with a cylindrical design that is twice the height of the spherical HomePod Mini. It is also significantly heavier at 5.16 lbs (2.3 kg), while its smaller sibling weighs just 0.76 lbs (345 grams). Apple has launched the HomePod 2 in Midnight and White colorways, while the HomePod Mini is available in White, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Space Gray.
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The large size of the HomePod (2nd-generation) is because of the number of speakers and new sensors it packs. Inside is a 4-inch high-excursion woofer and five horn-loaded tweeters. In contrast, the HomePod Mini has a full-range driver and two passive radiators for deep bass and crisp high frequencies. Both speakers have four microphones for far-field recognition to use Siri. More speakers in the HomePod 2 aren't the only reason why it sounds better than the HomePod Mini. Apple says the new 2nd-gen speaker uses “advanced computational audio with system sensing for real-time tuning.”
Both speakers support Multi-room audio with AirPlay and allow users to pair two speakers together for a better soundstage. However, only the HomePod 2nd generation supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Room sensing. The similarities between the two speakers start when it comes to connectivity. Both support 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Ultra Wideband. They also support Thread and Matter-enabled devices. While both have a USB-C connector, the cable for the HomePod Mini is permanently attached. The Mini also comes with a power adapter, unlike the HomePod 2.
Compatibility is also an important difference. Because the HomePod Mini is older, it supports some older iPhone and iPad models, like the iPhone SE (1st generation), the iPhone 6s, and the iPad Mini 4. That isn't the case with the HomePod 2, whose compatibility starts with the latest iPhones and goes back to the iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, and the iPad Mini 5. Finally, there's the price. At $99, the HomePod Mini is a third of the HomePod 2 and its $299 price tag, but it justifies that high price with its more powerful audio output, advanced tuning, and support for Spatial Audio.
